FIXED PROSTHODONTICS Lecture: "PFM Bonding" BONDING MECHANISMS: A. B. Physical Bonding: Mechanical Bonding: 1. 2.

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Surface Energy: Determines wetting Surface Roughness: Determines mechanical interdigitation and surface area for stress distribution.

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Chemical Bonding: 1. 2. Occurs by oxide mixing: a. Need thin metal oxide for alloying with the porcelain (oxide). b. Need transition zone of oxides from the metal to bulk porcelain. Oxidation of metal alloys (or surface pre-treatments) create the initial oxide layer for bonding: a. Sn, In, Fe, or Zn may be added to the original alloy b. Pre-oxidizing treatments may be used c. Metallizing bonding agents may be painted onto the surface Precautions for bonding: a. Overheated alloy prematurely oxidizes the bonding elements. b. Thick oxide layers should be sandblasted prior to porcelainizing to minimize the oxide thickness.

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MECHANICAL FAILURES: A. Porcelain-to-Metal Fracture: (Most common site for short-term failures to occur. Most common for base metals.) 1. Fractures originating at the metal surface: a. Surface metal contamination b. Incomplete degassing c. Under-fired opaque porcelain d. Improper metal thickness e. Incorrect metal conditioner f. Reused metal alloy Fracture at the opaque and entering the bulk porcelain: a. Porosity at the opaque layer b. Cracks at the opaque layer c. Incomplete opaque bonding from firing at too low a temperature.

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Porcelain Fractures: (Most common site for long-term failures to occur. Design or fatigue problems.) 1. Design or procedural errors: a. Too little bulk of metal b. Sharp angles in porcelain c. Improper margin design Malocclusion or impact stresses: Thermal contraction incompatibility: a. Built-in stresses generate cracks at pores b. Thermal fatigue propagates cracks

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ESTHETIC FAILURES OF PORCELAIN-TO-METAL RESTORATIONS: A. Intra-Porcelain Failures: 1. "Gray or Black" shades in porcelain color: a. Insufficient opaque porcelain b. Improper opaque firing c. Contaminated metal substrate d. Porcelain oven contamination Porcelain surface cracks: a. Improper cooling rate b. Thermal cycling c. Over-glazed or under-fired porcelain d. Improper porcelain selection Porcelain surface roughness: a. Improper finishing and polishing agents b. Acid dissolution (topical fluorides)

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Color Match Changes of Adjacent Teeth or Restorations: 1. 2. Dentin yellowing in adjacent teeth Composite yellowing in adjacent teeth

REPAIR SYSTEMS: A. B. C. Silane + Acrylic (e.g., FUSION, George Taub Products, Inc.) Silane + Composite (e,g., PULPDENT Porcelain Repair Kit) Silane + Composite (e.g., MIRAGE PFM Repari)

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MULTIPLE CHOICE STUDY QUESTIONS (answers are bolded): 1. How does porcelain attach to metal substrates? a. Micro-mechanical retention alone b. Chemical bonding alone c. Mechanical and chemical bonding d. Pseudo-chemical bonding e. Gross mechanical interlocking What allows porcelain to mechanically bond to metal? a. Roughness from sandblasting the cast metal restoration b. Defects after outgassing of the residual surface oxide c. Roughness creaed with a bur d. Residual surface roughness from the investment material e. Acid etching of the cast metal surface How does porcelain chemically bond to metal? a. Interposition of an intermediate metal layer b. Mixing of oxidized metal layers with porcelain oxides c. Wetting of the porcelain onto the metal surface d. Mixing of the metal atoms with the porcelain structure e. Diffusion of the porcelain into the metal structure Which ONE of the following elements does NOT contribute to metal oxidation for chemical bonding to porcelain? a. Sn b. In c. Fe d. Cr e. Si Which ONE of the following elements is key in PFM bonding to gold based alloys? a. Fe b. Cr c. Co d. Pt e. Ag Which ONE of the following elements is key in PFM bonding to gold-substitute alloys? a. Fe b. Sn c. Cr d. Zn e. In Which ONE of the following flaws is generally NOT found in porcelain? a. Surface cracks. b. Internal bulk porosity. c. Residual bulk stresses from uneven cooling. d. Voids at the porcelain to metal interface. e. External surface irregularities. What leads to "pop-off" of porcelain from PFM crowns? a. Contamination of the porcelain-to-metal interface. b. Thick layers of surface conditioners on the gold. c. Under-firing of the opaque layer. d. All of the above.

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9.

What causes surface micro-cracks in porcelain? a. Cooling stresses related to the poor thermal conductivity of porcelain. b. Thermal decomposition of the surface layers of porcelain. c. Hydrolysis of the surface layers after firing. d. Poor adhesion of stains or glazes to the bulk porcelain. e. Tensile stresses within the bulk porcelain during firing.

10. Which of the following contributes most to PFM failure? a. Improper margin design b. Too little bulk of metal for porcelain support c. Impact stresses on the porcelain d. Incomplete degassing of the porcelain opaque layer e. Built-in stresses in the porcelain 11. Which ONE of the following clinical events intra-orally probably contributes the most to porcelain-to-metal failure? a. Occlusal stresses b. Thermal cycling c. Electrochemical corrosion of the interface d. Acid attack at the surface cracks e. Metal flexure near cusps 12. Why may a PFM crown appear too opaque? a. Porcelain was not properly condensed. b. Porcelain was dried too rapidly. c. Furnace was not properly evacuated during baking. d. Thin porcelain e. All of the above. 13. Which of the following often contributes to long-term esthetic PFM failure? a. Porcelain-to-metal opaque layer changes in color b. Porcelain color changes c. Surface staining of porcelain d. Dentin yellowing in adjacent teeth e. Adjacent restoration discoloration DISCUSSION STUDY QUESTIONS: What are the hazards of using one manufacturer's porcelain with another manufacturer's alloy? Explain the reason for re-using only about 33% cast alloy with new alloy for casting PFM restorations. If a crack forms close to or within the metal-to-porcelain bonding zone, will it propagate vertically through the porcelain or parallel to the zone? In a PFM crown, what portion is the most susceptible to electrochemical corrosion? (Explain why.) Explain the differences in origin for cracks formed internally at pores versus cracks formed on the porcelain surface. Explain the process by which a PFM porcelain veneer would acquire a green color.

2005-2006, Stephen C. Bayne, Jeffrey Y. Thompson, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450