This PFM restoration failed due to a lack of support for ceramic at the marginal ridge. Note the fracture at the lingual margin due to possible flexure in that area.
Like metal, zirconia should be extended to the contact point of adjacent teeth to support the ceramic at the marginal ridges.
The porcelain is supported by the zirconia rod at the contact point where occlusal forces are the greatest.
Article
Dennis Ouye, CDT addresses the importance of proper design and structural support. Fractures in ceramic restorations have always been a challenge for technicians. Traditionally, they were caused by the lack of strength of feldspathic ceramic and...
Author
Dennis Ouye
. at . · Brentwood, CA
Dennis Ouye, CDT, is President of LDL Designs, Inc. in Berkeley, CA. He's held technician courses with Dr. Harry Albers at the University of California at San Francisco and University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, and has also taught ceramics at...
Subscribe to LMT Magazine. It's FREE to U.S. addresses.
September 2009
Browse all articles from the September 2009 issue of LMT Magazine
-
Readers' Favorite Cases of the Year
LMT Communications, Inc. · Labs & Profiles · November/December 2025
Readers share their most rewarding cases of 2025, from complex denture cases to dramatic anterior smile makeovers.
Adoption of 3D Printing on the Rise, Especially Among Small Labs
Kelly Fessel Carr · LMT Surveys · November/December 2025
LMT's annual 3D Printing Survey Report looks at the state of the market and where it's headed.
Novo Dental Lab Carves Out Niche in Chairside Surgical Support
Laurel Carbonneau · Labs & Profiles · November/December 2025
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in our community. In Part III of our series on startup labs, we talk with Fernando Pedraza, CDT, Novo Dental...
When Printing Gets Playful
Kelly Fessel Carr · Publisher's Page · November/December 2025
This issue features our annual State of the 3D Printing Market Report, offering a look at adoption rates, how the technology is impacting production and...
9 Business Apps that Save Time and Simplify Operations
Kelly Fessel Carr · Management · Oct 2025
Explore the apps that laboratory owners use to simplify the daily grind, enhance communication and keep their businesses running smoothly.