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Purpose: This study examined the influence of ceramic coping thickness on the
maximum stresses that arise in a first premolar all-ceramic crown. Materials and
Methods: Axisymmetric finite element models with different In-Ceram Alumina coping
thicknesses (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mm) were examined. Models with and without resin lute
were constructed. To all models, an identical axial load of 600 N was applied vertically
downward, over an area around the crown’s fissure. Results: The resulting peak tensile
maximum principal stresses in each part of the crown existed below the fracture strengths
of the respective materials making up the crown. This was true for all variations of core
thickness, with and without resin lute. The peak tensile stresses in the coping, porcelain,
and dentin decreased for an increase in core thickness. This was most evident in the
porcelain and coping. Conclusion: The thickness of the ceramic core has a significant
influence on the resulting stresses in the coping, porcelain, and dentin of this axially
loaded crown. Int J Prosthodont 2003;16:474–480.
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