ABRASIVENESS OF DENTAL CERAMICS

By : Takhellambam Sobhachandra Singh

2nd YEAR BDS
Roll No : 40
Dental Materials
• CONTENTS:
🔸Introduction
🔸Mechanism
🔸Microfracture mechanism
🔸Reduction of abrasiveness of dental ceramics
🔸Guidelines for minimizing excessive wear of enamel by
dental ceramics
🔸Conclusion
🔸Reference
 INTRODUCTION
What are ceramics?
Dental ceramics are non metallic , inorganic materials primarily
containing compounds of one more metallic or non- metallic oxides ,
bromides, carbides, and nitrides, as well as complex mixtures of
these materials.
Abrasiveness-The property of one material to wear away another
material by means of friction.(GPT)

Dental ceramics consists of :

1.Silicate glasses
2.Porcelains
3.Glass ceramic
4. Highly crystalline solid

Ceramics are generally considered the most biocompatible, durable

and esthetic materials available for rehabilitation of teeth, occlusal
•In spite of their overall excellence in meeting the ideal
requirements of a prosthetic material,
DRAWBACK OF DENTAL CERAMICS:
• Dental ceramic can cause catastrophic wear of the opposing
tooth structure under certain conditions.

• The most extreme damage occurs when a roughened surface

contacts tooth enamel or dentin under extraordinarily high
occlusal forces.

• This may occur because of bruxing , premature occlusal

contacts, and/or inadequate occlusal adjustments.
 MECHANISM:

 Abrasive wear mechanisms for dental

restorative materials and tooth enamel
include:-
1. Adhesion(metals and composites) in which
localized bonding of two surfaces occurs,
resulting in pullout, and transfer of matter
from one surface to another.

2. Microfracture (ceramics and enamel), which

results from gouging, asperities, impact, and
contact stresses that cause cracks or localized
fracture.
 MICROFRACTURE MECHANISM
•The microfracture mechanism is the dominant mechanism responsible
for surface breakdown of ceramics and the subsequent damage that a
roughened ceramic surface can cause to the tooth enamel surfaces.

Fig: Excessive wear of mandibular teeth abraded by opposing

ceramic maxillary teeth
 •Enamel is susceptible to
microfracture through four specific
mechanisms:

1) Asperities extending from the ceramic surface that

produce high localized stresses and microfracture;
2) Gouging that results from high stresses and large
hardness differences between two surfaces or
particles extending from these surfaces;
3) Impact or erosion that occurs through the action of
abrasive particles carried in a flowing liquid such as
saliva; and
4) Contact stress microfracture that increases localized
tensile stress and also enhances the damage caused
by asperities, gouging, and impact or erosion .
The abrasiveness of ceramics against enamel is affected by numerous
factors and properties of the crystal phase particles and glass matrix(if
present).

These include:
•Hardness

•Tensile strength
•Fracture toughness
•Fatigue resistance
•Chemical durability
•Exposure frequency to corrosive chemical agents
(acidulated phosphate fluoride, carbonated beverages)
•Abrasives of foods
•Residual stress
•Subsurface quality(voids or other imperfections)
•Magnitude and orientation of applied forces
•Chewing patterns
•Bruxing frequency
•Contact area
•Lubrication by saliva
•And duration of exposure to abrasive particles

•As a general rule, the larger the hardness difference between two
sliding surfaces, the greater is the degree of wear.
Reducing abrasiveness of ceramics by
polishing and glazing:-

•Glazing-Applying a special colorless porcelain to surface of completed

ceramic to give a smooth finish and increase lifespan of restoration.
• Depending on the initial surface roughness of the ceramic surface,
glazing the surface may not adequately decrease the surface roughness
since the glassy layer may be of insufficient thickness to fill in scratches
and grooves within the ground surface.
Thus under certain conditions, polishing or polishing followed by glazing
may be required.
Guidelines for minimizing excessive
wear of enamel by dental ceramics:-
•Tominimize the wear of enamel by dental ceramics, the following steps
should be taken:

1. Ensure cuspid-guided disocclusion;

2. Eliminate occlusal pre-maturities;
3. Use metal in functional bruxing areas;
4. If occlusion is in ceramic, use ultralow-fusing ceramics;
5. Polish functional ceramic surfaces;
6. Re-polish Ceramic surfaces periodically; and
7. Readjust occlusion periodically if needed.
*There are several indications for polishing ceramic
surfaces:

1. Polishing of ceramic prostheses should be

performed when they cannot be autoglazed.

2. Polishing of ceramic restorations that have

functional occlusal pathways or sub gingival
extensions will insure optimal smoothness.

3. All CAD-CAM inlays or other ceramic prostheses

that will not receive veneering ceramic should also
be polished.
CONCLUSION
 Ceramics in spite of their overall excellence in
meeting the ideal requirements of a prosthetic
material, the catastrophic wear they cause on opposing
tooth structure under certain conditions is unwanted.

 However, the wear on the opposing enamel and dentin

will be greatly reduced if/when cuspid-guided
disocclusion is ensured.

 The abrasive wear can be further reduced by

periodically refinishing the occlusal surface after
frequent exposures to carbonated beverages and/
acidulated phosphate fluoride .
References: Phillip‘s Science of Dental
Materials
(First South Asia Edition)

By:- Kenneth J. Anusavice

Chiayi Shen
H.Ralph Rawls.
THANK YOU