Stress Distribution on Prepared Tooth With Shoulder and Radial Shoulder Margin to Receive Crowns of Three Different Materials: A Finite Element Analysis

Aim and background This study aims to determine the stress distribution on the prepared tooth at the margins with shoulder and radial shoulder finish lines when an occlusal load of 300N was applied to ceramic, zirconia, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) crowns. Materials and methods Six models of mandibular first molar teeth were fabricated. The tooth models were subdivided into two groups with shoulder and radial shoulder margins, respectively (n = 18). The teeth were restored with three different prosthetic crown materials (ceramic, zirconia, and PEEK). To simulate the typical forces experienced by a prosthetic crown material in a lower posterior tooth during chewing and biting, an occlusal load of 300N was applied to each of the samples, and the maximum principal stress (Pmax) and von Mises stress were calculated, respectively. These samples were then compared and evaluated to determine the material best suited as a prosthetic crown material of choice for a lower posterior tooth. Results Among the materials used, the maximum principal stress value was the least in PEEK crowns. The von Mises stress value was highest for the zirconia crown with shoulder margin and was least for the PEEK crown with a similar margin. Conclusion PEEK as a crown material was found to be a better choice for lower posterior teeth as there was the least maximum principal stress at the margin, irrespective of either shoulder or radial shoulder finish line used.