Evaluation of Contact-Wear Behavior of Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramic Materials; In vitro Study

Background: The purpose of this work is to evaluation of contact-wear behavior of lithium disilicate glass ceramic materials under in vitro chewing tests. Methods: Eight specimens of each ceramic materials were exposed contact-wear tests using a computer-controlled chewing simulator (1.2 Hz 50 N bite force loads, 120.000 mechanical cycles, constantly 37 °C temperature immersed in distill water. Al 2 O 3 balls of 6 mm in diameter were used for each chewing test. The mean volume loss of all ceramic specimens after the contact-wear tests was determined with use 3D profilometer. In addition to a random specimen was selected from each test group and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were taken for analysis of wear tracks. Results: As a result, the ceramic materials tested in this study showed similar wear behaviors after 120.000 chewing tests. Conclusions: However, it was observed that more particles were carried on the wear surface and occurred micro cracks of the IPS e.max ceramic material. These micro cracks can be the continuation of cracks that occur subsurface of ceramic material.