Purpose: Internal and marginal fit accuracy of an implant-supported fixed partial denture (I-FPD) along with passive fit are required for long-term clinical success. This study compared the fit accuracy of three-unit CAD/CAM-fabricated cementretained I-FPDs milled from pre-sintered cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) and zirconia (Zr) and evaluated the effect of applying porcelain.
Materials and methods: Two implant analogs were positioned parallel at first premolar and first molar sites in an acrylic model. Their corresponding abutments were tightened with 25-Ncm torque force. Four groups were designed: two groups of I-FPD frameworks with pre-sintered Zr (ZrF) and soft millable Co-Cr alloy (SF) blocks, and two groups by applying porcelain to the Co-Cr (SP) and Zr (ZrP) frameworks (n = 4 in each group). Absolute marginal gap (AMG), marginal gap (MG), and internal discrepancies were measured. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Levene, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffe tests were used for statistical analysis using SPSS software version 22 at a significance level of .05.
Results: All measured criteria were significantly different from each other (all P values < .001). The rankings from the lowest gap to the highest gap for the main criteria were as follows: MG: SF < SP < ZrF < ZrP; AMG and internal discrepancies: SF < SP < ZrP < ZrF. Comparing molars and premolars, molars had smaller MGs, larger internal discrepancies, and smaller AMG in ZrP but larger AMG in SP.
Conclusion: All three-unit CAD/CAM-fabricated cement-retained I-FPDs were in the clinically acceptable range of fit accuracy. The lowest and highest misfit values were observed in the SF and ZrF groups, respectively.