Does the Misfit Volume of Prosthetic Crowns Differ Before and After Ceramic Application? An In Vitro Radiographic Microtomography Analysis

PURPOSE: To estimate the misfit volume of zirconia vs metal-ceramic crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five specimens were fabricated from zirconia and five from nichrome (metal-ceramic). Microcomputed tomography techniques were used to obtain volumetric reconstructions of misfit volume before and after ceramic application. RESULTS: The mean misfit volume for metal-ceramic crowns was 8.80 mm3, and for zirconia crowns was 6.76 mm3 (P = .003, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714 to 3.358). Misfit volume also did not differ significantly before and after ceramic application (metal-ceramic, P = .375, 95% CI 0.513 to 1.363; zirconia, P = .253, 95% CI 0.257 to 0.977). CONCLUSION: Zirconia crowns had a smaller mean misfit volume than metal-ceramic crowns. The change in misfit volume after ceramic application was minimal and unlikely to be of clinical relevance.