A calculation of stress distribution in metal-porcelain crowns by using three-dimensional finite element method.

The objective of this study was to calculate stress distribution in a maxillary second premolar tooth which occurred by the mastication force. The tooth model was crowned with Au-Pd alloy, Ni-Cr alloy and porcelain. A load of 450 N, at an angle of 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis was applied on the occlusal margin of the crown tooth. The tooth was assumed isotropic, homogenous, elastic and unsymmetrical. This numerical study was carried out using three-dimensional finite element models and calculation programs were prepared by the authors using FORTRAN 77. The distribution of compressive, tensile and shear stress were plotted for the dentine, dentine-metal and metal-porcelain interfaces. The highest stress values were observed when Ni-Cr alloy and porcelain was used.