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Substructure for Ceramics Flashcards

7 cards from real CCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. In a PFM crown, which layer is applied directly over the oxidized metal coping to mask the metal color?

    Answer: Opaque porcelain

    Opaque porcelain is the first ceramic layer applied to the coping; it masks the metal color and forms the initial bond to the oxide layer.

  2. What happens to a metal substructure if the sprue is attached too close to the occlusal surface during casting?

    Answer: The casting shrinks unevenly, causing porosity near the occlusal

    Sprue placement too close to a thin area causes solidification shrinkage porosity at the occlusal, compromising structural integrity.

  3. Which type of zirconia surface treatment is most effective for promoting adhesion of veneering ceramic?

    Answer: Airborne particle abrasion with 50-µm alumina

    Airborne particle abrasion with 50-µm alumina creates micro-mechanical retention on zirconia, since HF acid does not effectively etch this material.

  4. The term 'wash firing' in the context of PFM fabrication refers to:

    Answer: Applying a very thin opaque layer and firing to verify bond

    A wash firing applies an extremely thin opaque coat to test the metal–ceramic bond quality before full opaque buildup.

  5. When a ceramist notices that veneering porcelain is chipping off a zirconia substructure, the most likely cause is:

    Answer: CTE mismatch between zirconia and veneering ceramic

    A CTE mismatch creates tensile stress in the veneering ceramic during cooling, causing spontaneous chipping or delamination.

  6. Which substructure design concept reduces occlusal porcelain thickness to prevent fracture in posterior PFM crowns?

    Answer: Full metal occlusal coverage

    Full metal occlusal coverage eliminates unsupported ceramic on the functional surface, significantly reducing the risk of fracture under heavy posterior loads.

  7. What is the recommended minimum ceramic thickness for veneering porcelain over a metal coping to achieve adequate esthetics?

    Answer: 1.5 mm

    A minimum of 1.5 mm of veneering ceramic is required to mask the opaque layer and achieve natural-looking color depth and translucency.