Abstract
PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of cement, bonding pretreatment, and ceramic abutment material on the overall color results of CAD-CAM ceramic crowns bonded to titanium-based hybrid abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For single implant restoration of a maxillary lateral incisor a total of 51 CAD-CAM-fabricated monolithic lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated and subsequently bonded onto 24 lithium disilicate Ti-base abutments, 24 zirconia Ti-base abutments and 3 resin abutment replicas as a control group. The 48 copings were cemented with three definitive and one provisional cement on both grit-blasted and non-blasted Ti-bases. The color of each restoration and surrounding artificial gingiva was measured spectrophotometrically at predefined measuring points and the CIELAB (ΔE(ab)) color scale values were recorded. RESULTS: The color outcome of ceramic crowns bonded to hybrid abutments and soft tissues was affected differently by cements of different brands. Grit-blasting of Ti-bases prior to cementing CAD-CAM copings affected the color results of all-ceramic crowns. There was a significant difference (P = .038) for the median ΔE value between blasted and non-blasted reconstructions at the cervical aspect of the crown. Full-ceramic crowns on zirconia Ti-base abutments exhibited significantly lower ΔE values below the threshold of visibility (ΔE 1.8). In all subcategories tested, the use of a highly opaque temporary cement demonstrated the lowest median ΔE for both the crown and the artificial gingiva. CONCLUSION: Various cements, core ceramic materials and airborne particle abrasion prior to bonding can adversely affect the color of Ti-base supported ceramic crowns and peri-implant soft tissue. However, zirconia CAD-CAM copings and an opaque cement can effectively mask this darkening.