Filled Polymer Crowns - October 1998
Status Report on Clinical Performance of Polymer Crowns

This section is designed to be used in conjunction with the October 1998 CRA Newsletter (Vol. 22, Issue 10) and does not replace the information contained in the original publication.

Contents:

 

1. Results of 1 & 2 Year Clinical Recalls Including Sample Photos and SEM's -  See report of clinical study on Artglass, belleGlass, & Targis including sensitivity, wear, separation of crown from substructure, influences of laboratory techniques, and conclusions.
2. CRA's Wear Quantification Method - Pictures for step-by-step procedure of CRA's unique method.
3. Statistical Executive Summary -  See status report of clinical study on Artglass, belleGlass, & Targis.
4. Materials Tested & Their Properties - Introduction to Filled Polymer Crowns, descriptions and compositions of each crown material.
5. Methods & Protocol - Involvement of CRA, dentists, & dental labs.

Background

Filled polymers, placed over metal or fiber substructures or without any substructure, are now being promoted for full crowns.  This technology promises: (1) Low wear of opposing dentition; (2) Repairability; (3) Elimination of metal; and (4) Acceptable esthetics.  Clinical studies are in progress to confirm these expectations and provide information on durability, failure modes, and biocompatibility.  Information posted on this website contains (1) Results, (2) Materials tested and their properties, and (3) Methods and protocol.

Research Question

Are filled polymer crowns an alternative to conventional porcelain-metal, all metal, or all ceramic crowns?

Materials & Their Properties

Materials, Company Information, Cost

Brand Name of Material Company Phone/Fax Cost/Unit From Lab
Artglass Kulzer
Jelenko (US only)		 Phone: 914-273-8600
Fax:  914-273-9379		 $40 - $125
(No Substructure)
belleGlass HP Kerr - belle de St. Clair Phone:  714-516-7400
Fax:  714-516-7633		 $60 - $160
Targis System Ivoclar Phone:  716-691-0010
Fax:  716-691-2283		 $99 - $189

Material Properties

Brand Name of Material Product Category Colors Filler Size Filler Amount Polymer Matrix Substructure Tested by CRA
Artglass Polyglass 16 Vita

Barium aluminum boron silicate.
0.7µm

50% volume
69% weight		 Multi-functional monomers of methacrylic acid. No substructure used by CRA.
belleGlass HP Polymer Glass 16 Vita

Enamel layer - Borosilicate glass.
0.6µm

Enamel layer -
68% volume
74% weight		 Urethane dimethacrylate, Aliphatic dimethacrylate. Base metal
OR
Connect non-resin impregnated fibers.
Targis System Ceromer 20 Chromascope

Incisal layer - Barium glass, Mixed oxide, High dispersed silica.
0.7µm

Incisal layer -
56% volume
77% weight		 Bis-GMA, decandiol dimethacrylate, Urethane dimethacrylate. Vectris single resin impregnated fibers.

Cure Process of Each Material

Brand Name of Material Cure Process
Artglass Strobe light 20 flashes per second @ 10,000 - 0 mW/cm2 for total time for 3 separate layers of 6 minutes in ambient air environment.
belleGlass HP Visible light @ 450 mW/cm2 for 40 sec. per layer in nitrogen environment & heat @ 140o C & pressure @ 60 psi. for 10 min.
Targis System Pressure at 32 psi. & vacuum @ 115 torr for 10 min. with light @ 400 mW/cm2 to mold & cure substructure.  For incisal layer, light @ 400 mW/cm2 for 10 min. & heat @ 95o C for 25 min.

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