Effect of water content on the mechanical strength of dental porcelain

In this study, we measured the mechanical strength and fracture toughness of feldspathic dental porcelains with different water contents. The mechanical strength of the dental porcelain was measured using a three-point bending test; the fracture toughness of the dental porcelain was measured by a Vickers indentation method. An increased water content was found to decrease both the strength and toughness. This is probably due to easier crack formation or perhaps to a slightly higher crystallinity of the leucite material. We expected and found that it was necessary to study this phenomenon to overcome the failure of feldspathic dental porcelains during refiring after a temporary cementation in the mouth.