Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of material and manufacturing technique on retention of meso-structure to Ti-base after artificial thermo-cycling aging.
Materials and Methods: Forty implant analogues were placed in resin moulds to which Ti-bases were screwed. Ti-bases were scanned, and abutments were designed using CAD/CAM software. Samples were divided into 5 equal groups according to material and technique of construction of meso-structure as follows: Group I (Zr CAD): CAD/CAM zirconia, Group II (E.max Press): Pressable lithium disilicate with 3D printed resin pattern, Group III (E.max CAD): CAD/CAM lithium disilicate, Group IV (PEEK CAD): CAD/CAM PEEK, Group V (PEEK Press): PEEK was directly pressed on the Ti-bases. Samples of each group were surface treated and cemented to respective Ti-bases according to manufacturers' instructions. All samples were subjected to 10,000 thermal cycles between 5°C-55°C. Samples were subjected to pull-out retention test. The surfaces of Ti-bases and internal surfaces of abutments were photographed under high magnification to analyze the mode of failure.
Results: Group II (E.max Press) showed highest pull-out values followed by group III (E.max CAD). Group V (PEEK press) showed the least values. Insignificant difference was found between group IV (PEEK CAD) and group I (Zr CAD).
Conclusions: Lithium disilicate ceramics showed best results for both techniques. CAD/CAM zirconia and CAD/CAM PEEK abutments have comparable values. Pressing PEEK on Ti-Base without macro-retentive features is not a reliable alternative. More clinical trials are needed to confirm success of different materials and techniques used to construct meso-structures on Ti-base.