Impact of restorative materials on biomechanical behavior of endocrown and post-core restorations: A 3-dimensional finite element analysis

PURPOSE: This study evaluated biomechanical behavior of endocrown and post-core restorations produced from computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and traditional materials in severely damaged teeth that lack a ferrule and assessed the associated failure risk of resin cement. METHODS: A phantom maxillary central incisor and mandibular second premolar were trimmed 1 mm coronally to the cemento-enamel junction, the root canals were enlarged, and the teeth were scanned. Data were transferred to a solid modeling software. Twenty-two models were constructed, including endocrowns (hybrid ceramic, lithium disilicate, and polyetheretherketone [PEEK]) and post-cores (glass-fiber post/composite core; glass-fiber single-piece post-core; PEEK single-piece post-core; gold single-piece post-core). Hybrid ceramic and lithium disilicate crowns were modeled on the post-cores. Loads of 100 N for the central incisor and 300 N for the premolar were applied in a 45° oblique direction. von Mises stresses were analyzed on both root dentin and restorations, and the failure risks for the resin cement were calculated. RESULTS: The highest stresses were found at the roots of the PEEK endocrown (37.6 MPa) for the central incisor and of the lithium disilicate endocrown for the premolar (40.0 MPa) among endocrown groups. PEEK endocrowns had the lowest stress within the restoration and presented a higher risk of cement failure. The glass-fiber post/composite core groups demonstrated the highest adhesive and cohesive failure risks for post cement. CONCLUSIONS: For the central incisor and mandibular premolar, lithium disilicate and PEEK endocrowns, respectively, generated less stress at the root. However, PEEK endocrowns had a higher risk of cement failure.