Evaluation of Clinical Efficiency of Ceramage Fused to Metal Crown on Molars

Objectives: Historically there have been many types of materials used to produce dental crown, but they have some disadvantages such as poor mechanical strength (plastic), too hard to erode the opposite teeth (metal) or relatively hard compared to enamel and difficult to repair when being cracked (porcelain).
Ceramage is a composite material with the essence of porcelain crystals mixed in organic polymer frames combined with filler particles.
This research aims to evaluate clinical efficiency of Ceramage fused to metal crowns applied in the molar region.
Methods: The prospective study was conducted on 40 patients with 40 restored molars. The teeth were prepared using conventional PFM technique. The Ceramage fused was fabricated on the Cr-Co framework in dental lab. Patients were recruited at 3 and 9 months to evaluate the criteria: color harmony with surrounding teeth, mechanical strength of Ceramage coating.
The prospective study was conducted on 40 patients with at least one molar to be restored. All abutments were prepared by conventional PFM technique. The dental crowns were fabricated with Ceramage fused on Cr-Co framework in dental lab. The criteria including color harmony, mechanical strength of Ceramage coating were evaluated right after fixing, 3 months and 9 months.
Results: The good harmony in color was 72.5%; 70% and 67.5% and average harmony was 32.5; 30% and 32.5% respectively at baseline, after 3 and 6 months follow up.
After 3 months, 70% the Ceramage coating was intact and 30% of which had minor fractures.
After 9 months 65% of Ceramage were intact, 32.5% of which had minor fractures and 2.5% had large fractures but could be repaired clinically.
Conclusions: Ceramage fused to metal crown may be substitutional material for dental prosthodontics due to its mechanical and aesthetic properties and reasonable price, especially for the restoration without hard chewing forces