Purpose: The aim of the current study is to evaluate inlay and onlay marginal adaptation of two different ceramic materials using two intra-coronal preparation designs. Materials and Methods: An examination of the marginal adaption of two materials, lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) (EX) and polymer infiltrated ceramic network material (PICN; Vita Enamic) (EN), and two preparation designs where D1 represents MOD inlay preparation with no cusp reduction and D2 in addition of the basic MOD preparation, the buccal cusps (functional cusps) were reduced by 1.5 mm. 4 sub-groups (EX-D1), (EX-D2), (EN-D1), (EN-D2) were conducted. Forty (n=40) mandibular molars were used. A stereomicroscope was used to assess the marginal gap before, after cementation and after thermocycling. Values were calculated for the mean, median, standard deviation (Sd), minimum, maximum, and 95% confidence interval. Pair-wise comparisons using Tukey's Post-Hoc test were performed following a significant analysis of variance (ANOVA) P ≤ 0.05. Results: The results revealed that lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) showed statistically significantly higher mean gap distance than polymer infiltrated ceramic network material (PICN; Vita Enamic) (61µm to 99µm). Pair-wise comparisons showed that D2 design has statistically significant higher mean gap values than D1. Conclusions: Both lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) or polymer infiltrated ceramic network material (PICN; Vita Enamic) provided marginal adaptation within clinical accepted range. Polymer infiltrated ceramic network material restorations provided better fit than lithium disilicate restorations. Cusp coverage has a greater marginal gap compared to conventional Preparation.
