{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T00:40:56Z","timestamp":1787791256930,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]],"date-time":"2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742860800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"\u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara, Romania"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of pontic length and design on the fracture resistance of zirconia fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). By assessing different span lengths under controlled mechanical loading conditions, the research seeks to provide insights into optimizing the structural integrity of zirconia dental bridges. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 zirconia bridges were fabricated and tested in vitro. Ten bridges were designed to replace a single missing molar (tooth 46), with a pontic span of 11 mm, while the remaining ten were crafted for two missing teeth (35 and 36), featuring a longer pontic span of 17 mm. The zirconia frameworks were milled using the Wieland Zenotec\u00ae Select Hybrid system and cemented onto metal abutments with Voco Meron Plus QM resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement. The specimens were subjected to occlusal loading using a ZwickRoell ProLine Z005 testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm\/min until fracture occurred. Results: The mechanical testing revealed a significant correlation between pontic length and fracture resistance. The mean fracture resistance for three-unit bridges (single pontic) was 3703 N, whereas four-unit bridges (double pontic) exhibited a significantly lower resistance of 1713 N. These findings indicate that increased span length reduces the fracture resistance of zirconia restorations due to higher stress accumulation and reduced rigidity. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of pontic length and design in determining the fracture resistance of zirconia restorations. Shorter spans exhibit greater structural stability, reinforcing the need for careful treatment planning when designing multi-unit zirconia bridges. By optimizing bridge parameters, clinicians can improve clinical outcomes and extend the longevity of zirconia prostheses in restorative dentistry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb16040116","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]],"date-time":"2025-03-25T12:18:52Z","timestamp":1742905132000},"page":"116","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["Influence of Pontic Length on the Structural Integrity of Zirconia Fixed Partial Dentures (FPDs)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Tareq","family":"Hajaj","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6347-3497","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioana Elena","family":"Lile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, \u201cVasile Goldis\u201d Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, 310045 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4837-2693","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioana","family":"Veja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, \u201cVasile Goldis\u201d Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, 310045 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Florina","family":"Titihazan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1199-3020","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihai","family":"Rominu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1126-3944","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Meda Lavinia","family":"Negru\u021biu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cosmin","family":"Sinescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andreea Codruta","family":"Novac","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0211-5368","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Serban","family":"Talpos Niculescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cristian","family":"Zaharia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 9 Revolutiei 1989 Ave, 300070 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1742","DOI":"10.3889\/oamjms.2018.378","article-title":"Contemporary Dental Ceramic Materials, A Review: Chemical Composition, Physical and Mechanical Properties, Indications for Use","volume":"6","author":"Kapusevska","year":"2018","journal-title":"Open Access Maced. 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