A comparison of marginal fit of glass infiltrated alumina copings fabricated using two different techniques and the effect of firing cycles over them

PURPOSE. This study evaluated marginal fit of glass infiltrated alumina cores fabricated using two techniques and their marginal stability after firing cycles of veneering porcelain. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Fifteen standardized all-ceramic crowns were fabricated on a metal die using each technique: slip cast technique of VITA In-Ceram sprint Alumina (Group A as control) and plastic foil matrix technique of Turkom-Cera fused alumina core system (Group B). Copings were compared between groups and within groups at coping stage and after firing each layer of veneering porcelain. A device was used to standardize seating of copings on the metal die and positioning of the specimens under the microscope after each stage of fabrication. The specimens were not cemented and marginal gap was measured using an image analyzing software (Imagepro Express) on the photographs captured under an optical microscope. Two tailed unpaired 't test' was used to compare marginal gaps in two groups and one way ANOVA was used to analyze marginal distortion within each group at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS. The marginal gap was smaller at the coping stage in group B ($60+30{\mu}M$) than group A ($81+21{\mu}M$) with statistical significance. After firing of veneering porcelain the difference was insignificant. At the final stage, both groups exhibited lower mean marginal gaps than at the initial coping stage with the difference of $11.75{\mu}M$ for group A and $11.94{\mu}M$ for group B, but it was statistically insignificant due to high value of standard deviation. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that both techniques produced copings with comparable and acceptable marginal fit and marginal stability on firing veneering porcelain.