Inner marginal strength of CAD/CAM materials is not affected by machining protocol.

Purpose: Here we aimed to compare two machining strategies regarding the marginal strength of CAD/CAM materials using a hoop-strength test in model sphero-cylindrical dental crowns, coupled with finite element analysis.

Materials and methods: Five CAD/CAM materials indicated for single posterior crowns were selected, including a lithium disilicate (IPS e.max^® CAD), a lithium (di)silicate (Suprinity^® PC), a polymer-infiltrated ceramic scaffold (Enamic^®), and two indirect resin composites (Grandio^® Blocs and Lava™ Ultimate). A sphero-cylindrical model crown was built on CAD Software onto a geometrical abutment and machined using a Cerec MC XL system according to the two available protocols: rough-fast and fine-slow. Specimens were fractured using a novel hoop-strength test and analyzed using the finite element method to obtain the inner marginal strength. Data were evaluated using Weibull statistics.

Results: Machining strategy did not affect the marginal strength of any restorative material tested here. Ceramic materials showed a higher density of chippings in the outer margin, but this did not reduce inner marginal strength. IPS e.max^® CAD showed the statistically highest marginal strength, and Enamic^® and Lava™ Ultimate were the lowest. Grandio^® Blocs showed higher performance than Suprinity^® PC.

Conclusions: The rough-fast machining strategy available in Cerec MC XL does not degrade the marginal strength of the evaluated CAD/CAD materials when compared to its fine-fast machining strategy. Depending on the material, resin composites have the potential to perform better than some glass-ceramic materials.