This study investigated fractures of the cement layer between a crown
and a die. Model crowns were luted on dies with zinc phosphate cement
and various magnitudes of load were applied. Surface strain on the cro
wn was measured using strain gauges. Seal was evaluated using dye pene
tration and tensile tests. Results showed that cement fracture affecte
d surface strain behavior on the crown and was detected using the surf
ace strain measurement. The dye penetration test and the tensile test
could not be used to detect the cement fracture. It is suggested that
the three-dimensional relative positioning between the crown and the d
ie affected the development of the cement fracture.