Journal of Dental Medicine

Statement of Problem: Dental porcelain is one of the best materials ever used in dentistry. Excellent tissue compatibility, esthetics, very low solubility in oral fluids, high compressive strength, and the lowest bacterial plaque accumulation on the glazed porcelain are some of its advantages. Porcelain brittleness due to its low tensile strength, impact strength and the occlusal attrition of opposing teeth enamel are some of its disadvantages. The most important mechanical properties of dental porcelains are their flexural strength that is the ability of a porcelain to resist fracture when loaded from above. Different ways have been proposed to eliminate porcelain brittleness and develop its flexural strength, among which baking porcelain on a metal framework is more commonly used.
Purpose: Considering that restoration and replacement of teeth by porcelain fused to metal restorations is still the most commonly used technique, the aim of the present study was to measure the flexural strength of a porcelain bonded to metal powder, D4 Dentin, and to compare it with Vita Dentin powder.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a stainless steel box, 25x5x2mm was made according to ISO 6872: 1995 (E) Standard and filled with D4 Dentin powder and Vita Dentin (VMK 68N) and baked in Vita furnace. Then 10 blocks of D^ Dentin and 10 of Vita Dentin were made. Samples were placed on the three point bending test machine and force was applied the middle of each block. To analyze the data, t- student test and co-variance analysis were used.
Results: Mean flexural strength of D4 Dentin was 53.40±1.35 MPa and that of Vita Dentin was 53.86+7.38 MPa. The difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: According to ISO 6872: 1995 (E) standard, the flexural strength of all D4 Dentin samples were greater than 50 Mpa.