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

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 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
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.776-781
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility on recycling of IPS Empress ceramic for the wide use of esthetically pleased IPS-Empress ceramic in clinical prosthodontic treatment. The specimens were made of first, second, and third pressed IPS Empress ceramic and were immersed in 0.05% methylene blue solution for 24hours. The amount of color change before and after stain-ning was measured with colorimeter(Model Tc-6Fx, Denshoku Co., Tokyo, Japan). The change of ${\Delta}E$ in first pressed ceramic was 18.33 and those in second and third pressed ceramics were 19.33 and 19.93 respectively. Although there was statistical difference among them, the differences were minute and acceptable. From the results of this study, the possibility of recycling of IPS Empress ceramic could be suggested.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.524-529
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility on recycling of IPS-Empress ceramic for the wide use of IPS-Empress ceramic in prosthodontic treatment. The frexure strength of first pressed, second pressed, and third pressed IPS-Empress ceramic were measured and compared. There was no ststistical difference among three groups, and the result of this study implied the recycled IPS-Empress ceramic has enough frexure strength for clinical use.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.243-250
• /
• 2006

Due to high esthetic demands from patients, we are driven to fabricate natural-looking(form and color) restorations. In the past decade, the glass-ceramic in dentistry has been used as a material with variable crystals that affects the appearance, characteristics, and mechanical properties of metal-free fixed restoration. The conventional IPS Empress glass-ceramic is a heat-pressed, leucite reinforced material using the "lost wax" principle. This glass-ceramic has been successfully used for esthetic restorations such as all-ceramic crowns, inlays/onlays, and veneers for about 15 years. This article presents that the form and surface texture of clinical crown are duplicated by IPS-Empress system using "lost-wax technique".

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

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.641-658
• /
• 2001

All-ceramic restorations have become an attractive alternative to porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. In-Ceram, and more recently IPS Empress 2 were introduced as a new all-ceramic system for single crowns and 3-unit fixed partial dentures. But their strength and marginal fit are still an important issue. This study evaluated the fracture resistance and marginal fit of three systems of 3 unit all-ceramic bridge fabricated on prepared maxillary anterior resin teeth in vitro. The 3 all-ceramic bridge systems were: (1) a glass-infiltrated, sintered alumina system (In-Ceram) fabricated conventionally, (2) the same system with copy-milled alumina cores (copy-milled In-Ceram), (3) a heat pressed, lithium disilicate reinforced glass-ceramic system (IPS Empress 2). Ten bridges of each system with standardized design of framework were fabricated. All specimens of each system were compressed at $55^{\circ}$ at the palatal surface of pontic until catastrophic fracture occurred. Another seven bridges of each system were fabricated with standard method. All of the bridge-die complexes were embedded in epoxy resin and sectioned buccolingually and mesiodistally. The absolute marginal discrepancy was measured with stereomicroscope at ${\times}50$ power. The following results were obtained: 1. There was no significant difference in the fracture strength among the 3 systems studied. 2. The Weibull modulus of copy-milled In-Ceram was higher than that of In-Ceram and IPS Empress 2 bridges. 3. Copy-milled In-Ceram($112{\mu}m$) exhibited significantly greater marginal discrepancy than In Ceram ($97{\mu}m$), and IPS Empress 2 ($94{\mu}m$) at P=0.05. 4. The lingual surfaces of the ceramic crowns showed smaller marginal discrepancies than mesial and distal points. There was no significant difference between teeth (incisor, canine) at P=0.05. 5. All-ceramic bridges of three systems appeared to exhibit sufficient initial strength and accept able marginal fit values to allow clinical application.

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

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.572-576
• /
• 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
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.596-605
• /
• 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.