Purpose: The study compared the probability of failure of three highly filled resin-veneered restorations to that of conventional metal-ceramic restorations when used as implant-supported prostheses. The effect of the location of load application on the fracture resistance of the restorations was also studied.
Materials and methods: Twenty samples each of the three resins, Artglass, Targis, and Estenia, were applied on type IV gold frameworks. Twenty metal-ceramic restorations of equal dimensions (VMK 95 and Degudent Universal) were used as controls. Compressive load was applied vertically at 1 mm (n = 10) and 2 mm (n = 10) from the periphery of the occlusal table until the restorations failed. Weibull analysis was applied to the data.
Results: There was no significant difference in the probability of failure among the metal-ceramic restorations and three resin-veneered restoration systems. Loading the resin-veneered restorations at the 1-mm location significantly increased their probability of failure when compared to the 2-mm loading location. The loading location did not significantly change the probability of failure of the metal-ceramic restorations.
Conclusion: The probability of failure of resin-veneered restorations tested was not significantly different from that of the metal-ceramic restoration under two compressive loading conditions. Eccentric loading of resin-veneered restorations should be minimized in light of the higher probability of failure associated with such a loading condition.