Abstract
Background and aims. CAD/CAM systems facilitate the use of zirconia substructure materials for all-ceramic copings.
This in vitro study investigated the marginal and internal fit of zirconia copings made with CAD/CAM system and slipcasting
method.
Materials and methods. Sixteen CAD/CAM made zirconia copings and 16 slip-cast made zirconia copings were fabricated
and cemented with glass-ionomer cement to their respective master abutment models, and thickness of the cement
layer was measured at specific measuring points with stereomicroscope.
Results. In the left wall, the mean axial internal gap was greater in group one than group two (62.49 vs. 48.14) (P =0.007),
in the right wall the mean axial internal gap was greater in group one than group two (44.87 vs. 40.91) (P = 0.465). The occlusal
internal gap was greater in group one than group two (118.81 vs. 102.11) (P =0.423). The mean marginal gap also
was greater in group one than group two (46.67 vs. 44.29) (P = 0.863). The differences in marginal fit between these two
methods were not statistically significant, except for left axial internal gap that was significantly greater in the CAD/CAM
system than conventional slip-cast technique (P =0.007).
Conclusion. It was concluded that this CAD/CAM system can compete well with conventional systems for clinical fit,
and can achieve good in vitro marginal fit.