Fracture Behavior and Energy Dissipation Mechanisms of Dental Prosthetic Materials under Different Crack Conditions

Abstract

To enhance the mechanical reliability of dental prostheses under long-term service conditions, this study aimed to evaluate the fracture behavior and energy dissipation characteristics of three commonly used prosthetic materials, namely, zirconia ceramics (ZrO₂), cobalt-chromium alloy (Co-Cr), and titanium-zirconium alloy (Ti-13Zr), under various crack configurations. A three-dimensional finite element model of a single-crown prosthesis incorporating predefined cracks was established, and both axial and oblique multidirectional loads were applied. Using LS-DYNA software, the deformation patterns, principal stress distribution, and energy release characteristics during crack propagation were systematically analyzed. The experimental results indicate that Ti-13Zr alloy exhibited the highest crack resistance, making it particularly suitable for patients with insufficient bone volume or limited implant space. Co-Cr alloy demonstrated favorable structural stability and mechanical performance under high-load conditions. In contrast, due to its inherent brittleness, ZrO₂ was more prone to rapid fracture propagation in long-span or high-stress scenarios, although it remains a preferred option for anterior esthetic zones and patients with metal sensitivities. Furthermore, the simulation outcomes were theoretically validated using Griffith’s energy-based fracture criterion, reinforcing the accuracy of failure predictions based on principal stress analysis. This study elucidates the differences in clinical applicability among prosthetic materials and reveals their distinct fracture mechanisms, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing material selection and structural design. The findings contribute to improving the long-term safety and functional stability of implant-supported dental restorations.

Keywords

finite element analysis / eental prosthetic materials / fracture behavior / energy dissipation / crack propagation

References

[1] Manfredini M, Poli PP, Giboli L, et al. . Clinical Factors on Dental Implant Fractures: A Systematic Review. Dentistry Journal, 2024, 12(7): 200-218 J]

[2] Tallarico M, Meloni SM, Park CJ, et al. . Implant Fracture: A Narrative Literature Review. Prosthesis, 2021, 3(4): 267-279 J]

[3] Heffernan MJ, Aquilino SA, Diaz-Arnold AM, et al. . Relative Translucency of Six All-ceramic Systems. Part I: Core Materials. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2002, 88(1): 4-9 J]

[4] Yap RC, Alghanem M, Martin N. A Narrative Review of Cracks in Teeth: Aetiology, Microstructure and Diagnostic Challenges. Journal of Dentistry, 2023, 138: 104 683-104 688 J]

[5] Kakka A, Gavriil D, Whitworth J. Treatment of Cracked Teeth: A Comprehensive Narrative Review. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 2022, 8(5): 1 218-1 248 J]

[6] Dorado S, Arias A, Jimenez-Octavio JR. Biomechanical Modelling for Tooth Survival Studies: Mechanical Properties, Loads and Boundary Conditions-A Narrative Review. Materials, 2022, 15(21): 7 852-7 858 J]

[7] Pjetursson BE, Valente NA, Strasding M, et al. . A systematic Review of the Survival and Complication Rates of Zirconia-ceramic and Metal-Ceramic Single Crowns. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2018, 29(Suppl16): 199-214 J]

[8] Wojciechowski I, Klatkiewicz T, Prylińska-Czyżewska A, et al. . Methods of Processing Dental Chromium-cobalt Alloys for Production of Metal Frameworks Faced with Ceramics to Obtain the Best Mechanical Properties. Medical Science Monitor Basic Research, 2024, 30: 944 051-944 057 J]

[9] Saha S, Roy S. Metallic Dental Implants Wear Mechanisms, Materials, and Manufacturing Processes: A Literature Review. Materials, 2022, 16(1): 161-194 J]

[10] Ionita D, Pirvu C, Stoian AB, et al. . The Trends of TiZr Alloy Research as a Viable Alternative for Ti and Ti16 Zr Roxolid Dental Implants. Coatings, 2020, 10(4): 422-436 J]

[11] Haimov E, Sarikov R, Haimov H, et al. . Differences in Titanium, Titanium-zirconium, Zirconia Implants Treatment Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research, 2023, 14(3): 1-13 J]

[12] Rees JS, Huggett R, Harrison A. Finite Element Analysis of the Stress-Concentrating Effect of Fraenal Notches in Complete Dentures. International Journal of Prosthodontics, 1990, 3(3): 238-240[J]

[13] Cheng YY, Cheung WL, Chow TW. Strain Analysis of Maxillary Complete Denture with Three-dimensional Finite Element Method. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2010, 103(5): 309-318 J]

[14] Grachev DI, Ruzuddinov NS, Arutyunov AS, et al. . Algorithm for Designing a Removable Complete Denture (RCD) Based on the FEM Analysis of Its Service Life. Materials, 2022, 15(20): 7 246-7 268 J]

[15] Diarjani SM, Motevasseli S, Dalili Kajan Z. Virtual Three-dimensional Model Analysis in the Assessment of the Maxillary and Mandibular Donor Sites on Cone-beam Computed Tomography Images. Journal of Digital Imaging, 2023, 36(5): 2 249-2 258 J]

[16] Zhang Y, Liu Y, Liu T, et al. . Evaluation of CBCT Reconstructed Tooth Models at Different Thresholds and Voxels and Their Accuracy in Fusion with IOS Data: an in vitro Validation Study. BMC Oral Health, 2024, 24(1): 1 571-1 577 J]

[17] Jameel RM, Al-Khafaji AM. The Influence of Various Superstructure Materials on Stress Distribution for Implant-supported Prosthesis: Three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis. Prosthesis, 2024, 6(5): 1 133-1 148 J]

[18] Yu M, Li J, Liu S, et al. . Diagnosis of Cracked Tooth: Clinical Status And Research Progress. Japanese Dental Science Review, 2022, 58: 357-364 J]

[19] Tan P, Jin Y, Pang H. Hydraulic Fracture Vertical Propagation Behavior in Transversely Isotropic Layered Shale Formation with Transition Zone using XFEM-based CZM Method. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2021, 248: 107 707-107 713 J]

[20] Colepícolo LS, Magalhães PHV, Martinez MAM, et al. . Comparative Analysis of a Conventional Cantilever Abutment and Innovative Double Abutment in Dental Implant Prosthesis: A Finite Element Analysis Study. Biomedical Engineering Advances, 2025, 9: 100 151-100 158 J]

[21] Wang H, Shen F, Li Z, et al. . Preparation of High-performance ZrO₂ Bio-ceramics by Stereolithography for Dental Restorations. Ceramics International, 2023, 49(17): 28 048-28 061 J]

[22] de la Rosa Castolo G, Guevara Perez SV, Arnoux PJ, et al. . Implant-supported Overdentures with Different Clinical Configurations: Mechanical Resistance using a Numerical Approach. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2019, 121(3): 546-556 J]

[23] Windisch A. Extended Rankine Failure Criteria for Concrete. Journal of the Hungarian Group of Fib, 2022, 23: 4-10[J]

[24] Liu W, Tan Y, Song X, et al. . Failure Analysis of Boss for Type IV Hydrogen Storage Vessel under Internal Pressure. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 131: 154-164 J]

[25] Wang WZ, Jie ZY, Yu GJ, et al. . Unified Fatigue Life Calculation of q460c Steel Fillet Weld Cruciform Joints Considering Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation. Advanced Steel Construction, 2024, 20: 222-231[J]

[26] Zahedi A. Fracture Behavior Modeling of 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Sheet using a Phenomenological Failure Criterion. Journal of Modeling in Engineering, 2025, 23: 33-48[J]

[27] Elsageer HA, Butt SD, Mohammad Bamousa AO, et al. , et al. Elsageer H A, Butt S D, Mohammad Bamousa AO, et al. , et al. . Failure Criteria for Brittle Anisotropic Rocks. Essentials of Rock Mechanics, 2025, Singapore. Springer Nature: 101-110 M]

[28] Quan H, Alderliesten RC. The Energy Dissipation during Fatigue Crack Growth in Metallic Materials. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2022, 269: 108 567-108 572 J]

[29] Abdullah T, Kirane K. Continuum Damage Modeling of Dynamic Crack Velocity, Branching, and Energy Dissipation in Brittle Materials. International Journal of Fracture, 2021, 229(1): 15-37 J]

[30] McMeeking RM. The Energy Release Rate for a Griffith Crack in a Piezoelectric Material. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2004, 71(7–8): 1 149-1 163 J]

[31] Sergienko KV, Konushkin SV, Morozova YA, et al. . Study of the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-38Zr-11Nb Alloy. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2025, 16(4): 126-157 J]

[32] Cruvinel DR, Silveira RE, Galo R, et al. . Analysis of Stress and Fracture Strength of Zirconia Implants after Cyclic Loading. Materials Research, 2015, 18(5): 1 082-1 088 J]

[33] Choi SM, Choi H, Lee DH, et al. . Comparative Finite Element Analysis of Mandibular Posterior Single Zirconia and Titanium Implants: A 3-dimensional Finite Element Analysis. The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics, 2021, 13(6): 396-407 J]

[34] Binetti C, Florio G, Pugno NM, et al. . Thermal Fluctuations Effects on Crack Nucleation and Propagation. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2025, 201: 106 157-106 161 J]

[35] Liu H, Yan J, Li A, et al. . A Relationship Between Fracture Toughness Kc and Energy Release Rate Gc according to Fracture Morphology Analysis. Crystals, 2024, 14(8): 740-754 J]

[36] Bazant ZP, Pfeiffer PA. Determination of Fracture Energy from Size Effect and Brittleness Number. ACI Materials Journal, 1987, 84(6): 463-480[J]

[37] Falcinelli C, Valente F, Vasta M, et al. . Finite Element Analysis in Implant Dentistry: State of the Art and Future Directions. Dental Materials, 2023, 39(6): 539-556 J]

[38] Sotova C, Yanushevich O, Kriheli N, et al. . Dental Implants: Modern Materials and Methods of Their Surface Modification. Materials, 2023, 16(23): 7 383-7 427 J]

[39] Cui W, Liu Y. Fatigue Behavior of Ti50Zr Alloy for Dental Implant Application. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2019, 793(1): 212-219 J]

[40] Li B, Shen C. Solid Stress-distribution-oriented Design and Topology Optimization of 3D-printed Heterogeneous Lattice Structures with Light Weight and High Specific Rigidity. Polymers, 2022, 14(14): 2 807-2 814 J]

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature