This study evaluated the fracture resistance and the survival rate of different all-ceramic crowns in-vitro after thermomechanical fatigue loading in comparison to porcelain-fused-to-metal posterior crowns. Sixteen crowns for human mandibular first molars were made of each of the following: Cercon, IPS-Empress 2 In-Ceram Zirconia, Procera AllZircon and porcelain-fused-to-metal. Half of the specimens of each group was thermocycled and dynamically loaded using a chewing simulator All samples were thereafter tested for the maximum fracture resistance. The survival rates after 1-2 million cycles in the artificial mouth were 100% in all the tested crown systems. The chewing simulation and thermocycling did not significantly decrease the fracture strength of the ceramic crowns (P>0.005). The median fracture load of Cercon, Procera AllZircon, In-Ceram Zirconia and PFM was significantly higher than IPS-Empress 2 both for loaded and non loaded groups (P0.005). All-ceramic systems showed fracture load values similar to those of porcelain-fused-to-metal molar crowns and therefore may be considered for use in clinical studies.
