• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2011

Purpose: As the demand and importance of aesthetic aspects in dental treatment become higher, much attention is paid to materials used for dental prostheses. Thus, the marginal fidelity of most-commonly used alloy, IPS - Empress and ZrO2 ceramic is compared. Methods: The alloy core made by casting, IPS - Empress core made by pressing and ZrO2 ceramic core made by CAD/CAM are used to make 10 samples respectively. For each core, three points were measures and the optical microscope (Axio Imager.Alm,Zeiss co., Oberkochen, Germany) was used to observe the cores with a magnification of 100. Results: As for alloy, IPS - Empress and ZrO2 ceramic, the average and deviation of their marginal distance are $29.91\;{\pm}11.93{\mu}m$ for alloy, $33.45\;{\pm}8.61{\mu}m$ for IPS - Empress, and $31.55\;{\pm}9.85{\mu}m$ for ZrO2. The one-way ANOVA test was conducted to compare them. However, there was no statistically significant difference among them. Conclusion: The study on marginal fidelity of alloy, IPS - Empress, and ZrO2 ceramic shows they have no marginal fidelity problem clinically. Therefore, if a system is selected based on the patient's condition or treatment method, there will be no problem.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.532-537
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• 2003

Statement of the problem : IPS Empress ceramic has been used as one of a esthetic restorative material since it's development, but the broad application of IPS Empress ceramic to clinical prosthodontic field has been limited by its high material cost. Purpose : This study was investigated to evaluate the hardness and fracture toughness after recycling of the IPS Empress ceramic. Material and methods : Reused specimens of IPS Empress were fabricated with repeated pressing. The hardness(Vickers hardness) and fracture toughness of 1st, 2nd and 3rd pressed specimens were measured with Digital Micro Hardness Tester(Model MXT70, Matsuzawa Seiki Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS(Ver 9.5). Result : The mean value of the hardness in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd pressed Empress were $6.23{\pm}0.48MPa,\;5.50{\pm}0.25MPa$, and $5.70{\pm}0.42MPa$. The hardness of the 1st pressing ceramic was higher than those or the 2nd and 3rd pressed ceramics(P<0.05). Hardness of the 3rd pressed ceramic was greater than that of the 2nd pressed ceramic. but there was no significant difference of hardness between those two(P>0.05). The mean value of the fracture toughness was $1.71{\pm}0.16MPam^{1/2}$ in 1st pressed ceramic, $1.78{\pm}0.10MPam^{1/2}$ in 2nd pressed and $1.73{\pm}0.14MPam^{1/2}$ in 3rd pressed IPS ceramic. Fracture toughness of the 2nd pressed ceramic was the highest and that of the 1st pressed ceramic was the lowest. There was no significant difference of fracture toughness among them(P>0.05). Conclusion : Hardness of the 2nd and 3rd pressed IPS Empress ceramics were lesser than that of 1st pressed IPS Empress ceramic(P<0.05), but there was no significant changes of fracture toughness among them(P>0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2003

Development of new ceramic and esthetic need of patient increased the use of ceramic restorations. The purpose of this study was to confirm the possibility of recycling for IPS Empress2 which has a lot of advantages in esthetics. 1st, 2nd and 3rd pressed disc-shaped($10{\times}1.5mm$) IPS Empress 2 specimens were made with IPS Empress ingot(shade 200, Ivoclar, Liechtenstein) and pressing furnace(IPS Empress EP 500, Ivoclar, Liechtenstein). Flexure strength was measured with universal testing machine(Zwick 145641, Zwick, Germany), and color change and staining resistance of specimens were evaluated with colorimeter (Model TC-6FX, Tokyo Denshoku Co., Japan). The followings were drawn from this study : 1. Flexure strength of the 1st, the 2nd, and the 3rd pressed specimens showed 236.78 MPa. 247.16MPa, and 220.72MPa, respectively. Flexure strength of the 2nd pressed specimens was higher than others, but there's no statistical difference between them. 2. The color difference between the 1st and the 2nd pressed specimens was 3.25, and that between the 1st and the 3rd pressed specimens was 3.63(P<0.05). 3. The color change after staining of the 1st, the 2nd. and the 3rd pressed specimens were 1.43, 2.64, and 1.45, respectively. In this study, reused IPS Empress 2 specimens showed insignificant change of flexure strength and stain resistance, but they showed some color change according to reuse. From this results, the limited possibility of reuse for IPS Empress 2 could be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.596-605
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• 2003

Statement of problem : IPS Empress2 system was developed and used in prosthodontic treatment, but the cost of ingot is expensive for wide application. Purpose : This study was to investigate the possibility on recycling of IPS Empress 2 ceramic for wide application of IPS Empress 2 ceramic in prosthodontic treatment. Material and Method : 1st, 2nd and 3rd pressed disc-shaped($10{\times}1.5mm$) IPS Empress 2 specimens were made with IPS Empress ingot(200, Ivoclar, Liechtenstein) and pressing furnace(IPS Empress EP 500, Ivoclar, Liechtenstein). Vicker's surface hardness and fracture toughness, acid resistance, and pressing accuracy of IPS Empress 2 ceramic were measured and analyzed. Surface hardness was measured by microhardness tester(MTX 70. Matsuzawa, Japan), before and after surface treatment with 0.5% hydrofluoric acid and carbonic acid(Coca cola) for evaluation of acid resistance. Results : The surface hardness of 1st pressed specimen was the higher(5.11 GPa) than those of 2nd pressed(4.89 GPa) and 3rd pressed specimen(4.86 GPa), and the fracture toughness of 1st pressed ($1.58MPam^{1/2}$) and 2nd pressed specimen($1.51MPam^{1/2}$) were higher than that of 3rd pressed specimen($1.39MPam^{1/2}$). The changes of surface hardness of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pressed specimens after treatment with fluoric acid were 0.17, 0.06, 0.05 (GPa) respectively, and those of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pressed specimens after treatment with carbonic acid were 0.07, 0.00, 0.05(MPa) respectively. The pressing accuracy of 1st,2nd and 3rd specimen were 77.22%, 85.681%, and 75.05%. The pressing accuracy of 2nd pressed specimen was higher than that of the 3rd specimen. Conclusion : The changes of physical properties according to recycling of IPS Empress 2 from this study were insignificant. Therefore the possibility of recycling of IPS Empress 2 can be suggested from the results.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.269-281
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• 2007

Fluoric acid etching is an essential procedure in cementation of reinforced ceramics to tooth surface. But there have been few studies about the changes of surface structure and flexural strength of IPS $Empress^{(R)}$ 2 ceramic according to the etching time. The objectives of this study were to examine the surface structure changes and the difference in biaxial flexural strength of IPS $Empress^{(R)}$ 2 ceramic according to various etching times. Sixty one disk-shaped specimens of IPS $Empress^{(R)}$ 2 ceramic($14mm{\times}1.2mm$) were fabricated for the biaxial flexural strength test and SEM analysis according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Sixty specimens were divided into 6 groups(n=10) according to the time of HF acid etching(0, 20, 180 and 300s)and silane/resin cement application. Each disk was loaded using a piston-on-3 ball biaxial configuration in a universal testing machine. The failure loads(N) were recorded, and the biaxial flexural strength for each disk was calculated. A one-way analysis of variance and independent t-test on transformed fracture strength data were used to determine significant differences between groups. The groups of no cementation showed a trend toward progressive weakening with increasing the etching time. However, this was not statistically significant at p=0.05 level. The groups of resin cementation exhibited no apparent trend in their mean strength values. SEM photomicrographs showed very different results of etching. Within the conditions of this study, alteration of surface topography by acid etching does not have a deleterious effect on the biaxial flexural strength of IPS $Empress^{(R)}$ 2 ceramic.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.189-202
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• 2002

A study on reflective spectrum between In-Ceram alumina plate(IAP) and IPS empress 2 plate were carried out in order to determine the difference of reflective spectrum rates between materials and between thicknesses of materials(0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm) by visible wave. The rates are measured by spectrophotometer(Top scan model TC-1800). And an analysis of ANOVA and paired sample t-test were carried out. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The reflective rates of IAP and IPS increased slowly as visible wave spectrum increased. 2. The difference of reflective rates of IAP between 0.8mm and 1.0mm is significant but a little(less than 1%). The differences of reflective rates of IAP between 0.8mm and l.2mm and between 1.0mm and l.2mm are significant(8%, 10% ). 3. The differences of reflective rates of IPS between 0.8mm and 1.0mm and between 0.8mm and 1.2mm and between 1.0mm and 1.2mm are significant(0.06 %, 0.01 %, 2 %). 4. The differences of reflective rates of 0.8mm, 1.0mm between IAP and IPS are significant but a little(less than 0.9%, 0.5%). The difference of reflective rates of l.2mm between IAP and IPS is significant and larger than the other thicknesses relatively(7 %).

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.38 no.12 s.379
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• pp.1122-1126
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• 2000

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.572-576
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• 2002

This investigation was designed to estimate the biaxial flexure strength and fracture toughness of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics of IPS Empress 2 system pressed with as-received ingots and their sprue buttons. Two groups of the lithium disilicate glass-ceramics were prepared as follows: group 1 is ingot-pressed group; group 2 is sprue button-pressed group. A ball-on-three-ball test was used to determine biaxial flexure strength (BFS) of disks in wet environment. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) analysis was conducted to observe the microstructure of the ceramics. Unpaired t-test showed that there were no differences in the mean biaxial Hem strength (BFS) and KIC values between group 1 and 2 (p > 0.05). Two groups showed similar values in the KIC and the strength at 5% failure probability. The SEM micrographs of the IPS Empress 2 glass-ceramic showed a closely packed, multi-directionally interlocking pattern of numerous lithium disilicate crystals protruding from the glass matrix. The lithium orthophosphate crystals could not be observed on the fracture surface etched. There was no a marked difference of the microstructure between group 1 and 2. Although there were no tests including color stability, casting accuracy, etc., the results of this study implied that we could reuse the sprue button of the pressed lithium disilicate glass-ceramic of IPS Empress 2 system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.171-183
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was compare the fracture strength of the IPS Empress ceramic crown according to the occlusal depth (1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm) and axial inclination ($4^{\circ},\;8^{\circ},\;12^{\circ}$) of the upper first molar. After 10 metal dies were made for each group, the IPS Empress ceramic crowns were fabricated and were cemented with resin cement. The cemented crowns mounted on the testing jig were inclined 30 degrees and a universal testing machine was used to measure the fracture strength. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The fracture strength of the ceramic crown with 2.5mm depth and $8^{\circ}$ inclination was the highest (1393N). Crowns of 1.5mm depth and $4^{\circ}$ inclination had the lowest strength (1015N) 2. There were no significant differences of the fracture strength according to occlusal depth and axial inclination. 3. Most fracture lines began at the loading area and extended through proximal surface perpendicular to the margin, irrespective of occlusal depth. 4. There was positive correlation between the fracture strength and the fracture surface area of crowns.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.127-133
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength of the IPS Empress ceramic crown according to the occlusal depth (1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm) and axial inclination ($4^{\circ},\;8^{\circ},\;12^{\circ}$) of the upper first premolar. After 10 metal dies were made fir each group, the IPS Empress ceramic crowns were fabricated and each crown was cemented on each metal die with resin cement. The cemented crowns mounted on the testing jig were inclined 30 degrees and a universal testing machine was used to measure the fracture strength. The results were : 1. The fracture strength of the ceramic crown with 2.5mm depth and $12^{\circ}$ inclination was the highest (630N). Crowns of 1.5mm depth and $4^{\circ}$ inclination had the lowest strength(378N). There were no significant differences of the fracture strength by axial inclination in same occlusal depth group. 2. The fracture mode of the crowns was similar. Most of fracture lines began at the loading area and extended through proximal surface perpendicular to the margin, irrespective of occlusal depth.