Three-dimensional Marginal Evaluation of Two Pressed Materials Using Micro-CT Technology

The main goal of the present study is to compare the marginal fit of two different kind of pressed materials: a partially crystalline thermoplastic resin reinforced with ceramic particles (BioHPP) and lithium disilicate (EMax), through the use of the microCT technique. After extraction of four caries-free mandibular first molars, first class inlay cavities were prepared. For each tooth two inlays were manufactured-one by using BioHPP thermoplastic resin (n=4) and one by using Emax Press lithium disilicate (n=4). The marginal gap was analyzed circumferentially at the occlusal margin using a Bruker micro CT, by measuring the distance at the occlusal limit of the cavities, between the restoration and the tooth in several points for every surface of each tooth before cementing. Data were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Pearson's correlation coefficient (a=0.05). A significant statistical difference was found between the marginal gap size obtained for BioHPP and Emax inlays (p<0.001). For the Emax inlays the marginal gap had an average of 72 mu m, while for BioHPP the average was 94 mu m. Both types of used materials offer a good marginal adaptation. By summing up the gathered data we can conclude that the pressed ceramics shows a better marginal fit than the pressed resin, probably because of the different processing methods: sintering versus polymerizing with different shrinkage values.