Numerical Modeling of the Fracture Process of a Three-Unit All-Ceramic Fixed Partial Denture

摘要

Fracture of dental all-ceramic restoration is often observed in clinic. And the fracture mechanisms and processes of three-unit all-ceramic fixed partial dentures (FPDs) are still not clear. In this paper, the fracture mechanism and process of a three unit zirconia ceramic FPDs framework under simulated mechanical loading are calculated by using a self-developed numerical modeling code, the RFPA~(2D) code. Acoustic emission showed that the fracture mechanism was tensile failure and the crack started at the lower boundary of the framework. The result revealed that the framework fracture pattern obtained by using the numerical simulation agreed with that observed in a previous laboratory test. The fracture process could be followed both in step-by-step and step-in-step. The RFPA~(2D) code is suitable for the use as a complement to other tests and clinical observations in studying stress distribution, fracture mechanism and fracture process in ceramic FPDs framework.