EN ISO 9693:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies requirements and test methods to assess the thermomechanical compatibility between a veneering ceramic and a metallic or ceramic substructure material used for dental restorations.; This document applies only to the materials used in combination. Conformity cannot be claimed for a single material.; For requirements for ceramic materials, see ISO 6872. For requirements for metallic materials see ISO 22674.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Aug-2026
• ICS: 11.060.10 - Dental materials
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 55 - Dentistry
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 9693:2026 - Dentistry - Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic systems (ISO 9693:2026)

• Replaces: EN ISO 9693:2019 - Dentistry - Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic systems (ISO 9693:2019)
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2025
• Referred By: EN 1641:2009 - Dentistry - Medical devices for dentistry - Materials
• Effective Date: 12-Aug-2026
• Consolidated By: ISO 9693:2026 - Dentistry — Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic systems
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

EN ISO 9693:2026 is a European Standard from CEN that adopts ISO 9693:2026 without modification. It specifies how to assess thermomechanical compatibility between a veneering ceramic and a metallic or ceramic substructure material used together in dental restorations. It is meant for paired materials, so it helps manufacturers, test laboratories and dental material buyers evaluate a system rather than a single product.

What does EN ISO 9693:2026 specify?

EN ISO 9693:2026 specifies requirements and test methods for metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic systems used in dental restorations. The focus is the behavior of the veneering ceramic and the substructure material as a combination under thermal and mechanical loading.

The document applies only to the materials used together. Conformity is claimed for the combination, not for one material on its own. For the ceramic part, users are directed to ISO 6872; for the metallic part, to ISO 22674.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, requirements, sampling, test methods and test report, followed by a bibliography. The main technical content is in Clause 4 on requirements and Clause 6 on test methods.

What are the key requirements of EN ISO 9693:2026?

Material requirements and what they mean in practice

• The individual ceramic and metallic component materials shall meet the requirements of ISO 6872 or ISO 22674, as applicable. In practice, EN ISO 9693:2026 does not replace the base-material standards; it checks whether the paired system behaves compatibly.
• Biocompatibility is mentioned only by reference. EN ISO 9693:2026 points users to ISO 10993-1 and ISO 7405 for biological risk assessment, so the compatibility test is not a substitute for biological evaluation.
• The coefficients of thermal expansion of the veneering ceramic and the substructure material shall be determined using the same measurement protocol. That matters because the comparison is meaningful only when both materials are measured in a comparable way.
• The measured thermal expansion values are useful for quality control, but they do not by themselves prove compatibility. In practice, a good thermal expansion match is only one part of the overall assessment.

De-bonding/crack-initiation testing

• EN ISO 9693:2026 requires a de-bonding/crack-initiation test for metal-ceramic systems, and for ceramic-ceramic systems it applies only to zirconia-veneering ceramic. The test gives a practical measure of how well the veneer resists separation or crack start on the substructure.
• The required de-bonding/crack-initiation strength is greater than 25 MPa for metallic substructure materials and greater than 20 MPa for ceramic substructure materials. Those thresholds give a clear pass/fail target for a selected material pairing.
• The test is based on six specimens and a three-point bending set-up. The fracture force is measured, converted with coefficient k from the chart in Figure 2 or the numerical method in Figure 3, and reported as de-bonding/crack-initiation strength.
• The evaluation rule is practical: four of six specimens must meet the requirement. If three of six pass, the test is repeated with six more specimens; if five or six pass in a set, the system conforms. This makes borderline cases less dependent on a single result.
• The test applies only to materials with elastic tensile modulus up to 250 GPa. That limits the method to combinations where the bending calculation remains applicable.

Thermal shock resistance, sampling and reporting

• At least one thermocycling test shall be performed according to either the fixed-temperature-interval procedure or the increasing-temperature-interval procedure. In practice, this checks whether the veneer-substructure system survives hot and cold exposure similar to the oral environment.
• The document allows the detailed thermal shock set-up to be adapted to the material combination and the test house experience, but the full set-up and results shall be reported. That makes local adaptation possible while keeping the evidence traceable.
• Sampling rules require material from the same lot, and the metallic material shall be unused. For the veneering ceramic, the document calls for enough material to cover all tests, including those from ISO 6872, and the most commonly used colour/shade variant is tested.
• For thermal shock specimens, the document uses either at least one veneered three-unit prosthesis or, if multiple units are not indicated, at least five anterior crowns. That keeps the test close to real restoration geometry.
• Clause 7 requires a full test report, including material identification, lot numbers, thermal expansion values, glass transition temperature, elastic modulus used in the analysis, specimen preparation details, thermal shock results, deviations and unusual observations. That information is what lets another lab or buyer judge whether the result is comparable.

What terms does EN ISO 9693:2026 define?

• Veneering ceramic - the fired ceramic layers applied to a substrate material to form the visible outer part of the restoration.
• Conditioning - the process of treating the substructure to improve bonding of the veneering ceramic.
• Liner - a substance applied and fired on the substructure to improve appearance and/or adhesion of the veneering ceramic.
• Thermomechanical compatibility - the ability of the veneer and substructure to work together under thermal and mechanical loading without early failure.
• Substructure material - the metallic or ceramic base that supports the veneering ceramic in the restoration.
• De-bonding/crack-initiation strength - the measured resistance of the bonded system to separation or crack start during the bending test.
• Thermal shock resistance - the ability of the restoration system to withstand repeated hot and cold cycling without cracking.

Who uses EN ISO 9693:2026?

EN ISO 9693:2026 is used by manufacturers of dental veneering ceramics, metal alloys and ceramic substructures when they qualify a material pairing for restorations. It is also used by testing laboratories that prepare specimens, run bending tests and thermocycling, and produce formal test reports.

Quality managers, technical buyers and product developers use EN ISO 9693:2026 to compare supplier claims, check batch consistency and decide whether a veneer-substructure combination is suitable for a dental restoration workflow. Dental laboratories and prosthodontic material teams can use it when they need a documented compatibility assessment before routine production.

What changed in EN ISO 9693:2026 from the previous edition?

EN ISO 9693:2026 supersedes EN ISO 9693:2019. ISO describes this fourth edition as a minor revision. The main change stated in the document is updated dated references to ISO 6872 and ISO 22674.

Which standards are used with EN ISO 9693:2026?

• ISO 1942 - provides the dentistry vocabulary used for terms and definitions.
• ISO 6872:2024 - gives requirements for ceramic materials and supports the thermal expansion and glass transition temperature methods used here.
• ISO 22674:2022 - gives requirements for metallic materials and the methods used for thermal expansion and Young’s modulus.
• ISO 10993-1 - is referenced for assessing biological risks of the materials.
• ISO 7405 - is referenced for the evaluation of biocompatibility of medical devices used in dentistry.
• ISO 3950 - supplies the tooth designation system used in the thermal shock specimen description.

What does the EN ISO 9693:2026 document contain?

The document contains detailed test methods rather than product descriptions or annexed tables. Clause 6.4 gives the test-specimen dimensions, the three-point bending apparatus, the firing and preparation steps, and the calculation route for de-bonding/crack-initiation strength.

Figure 1 shows the specimen configuration, Figure 2 gives the chart used to obtain coefficient k, and Figure 3 gives the flow chart for numerical calculation. Clause 6.5 then sets out two thermocycling procedures, including transfer times, temperature conditions and crack inspection under light microscopy, with a delayed inspection after 48 h for the fixed-interval method.

Clause 7 lists the report content needed for traceability. That includes material identity, lot numbers, measured properties, test setup details, failures, deviations and the responsible person and laboratory.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 9693:2020
Zobozdravstvo - Preskušanje združljivosti za kovinsko-keramične in keramično-
keramične sisteme (ISO 9693:2026)
Dentistry - Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic systems (ISO
9693:2026)
Zahnheilkunde - Kompatibilitätsprüfungen für metall-keramische und keramisch-
keramische Systeme (ISO 9693:2026)
Médecine bucco-dentaire - Essais de compatibilité pour systèmes métallo-céramiques et
céramo-céramiques (ISO 9693:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9693:2026
ICS:
11.060.10 Zobotehnični materiali Dental materials
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 9693
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 11.060.10 Supersedes EN ISO 9693:2019
English Version
Dentistry - Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and
ceramic-ceramic systems (ISO 9693:2026)
Médecine bucco-dentaire - Essais de compatibilité pour Zahnheilkunde - Kompatibilitätsprüfungen für metall-
systèmes métallo-céramiques et céramo-céramiques keramische und keramisch-keramische Systeme (ISO
(ISO 9693:2026) 9693:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 May 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9693:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9693:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 106 "Dentistry"
in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 55 “Dentistry” the secretariat of which is held by
DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2027, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2027.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9693:2019.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9693:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9693:2026 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 9693
Fourth edition
Dentistry — Compatibility testing
2026-07
for metal-ceramic and ceramic-
ceramic systems
Médecine bucco-dentaire — Essais de compatibilité pour
systèmes métallo-céramiques et céramo-céramiques
Reference number
ISO 9693:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ISO 9693:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 9693:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 Biocompatibility .2
4.2 Physical properties .2
4.2.1 General .2
4.2.2 Thermal expansion .2
4.2.3 De-bonding/crack-initiation test .2
4.2.4 Thermal shock resistance .3
5 Sampling . 3
5.1 Metallic substructure material .3
5.2 Ceramic substructure material .3
5.3 Veneering ceramic .3
6 Test methods . 3
6.1 Linear thermal expansion .3
6.1.1 Metallic materials .3
6.1.2 Ceramic materials .3
6.2 Glass transition temperature .3
6.3 Young's modulus .3
6.4 De-bonding/crack-initiation test.3
6.4.1 Apparatus .3
6.4.2 Preparation of test specimens .4
6.4.3 Determination of fracture force .4
6.4.4 Test report .6
6.5 Thermal shock testing .6
6.5.1 General .6
6.5.2 Preparation of test specimen .7
6.5.3 Thermocycling test with fixed temperature interval .7
6.5.4 Thermocycling test with increasing temperature interval .7
7 Test report . 8
Bibliography .10

iii
ISO 9693:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 106, Dentistry, Subcommittee SC 2,
Prosthodontic materials, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical
Committee CEN/TC 55, Dentistry, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO
and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition ISO 9693:2019, of which it constitutes a minor
revision.
The main changes are as follows:
— Dated references to ISO 6872 and ISO 22674 have been updated.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO 9693:2026(en)
Introduction
Dental veneering ceramics and metal alloys or substructure ceramics are suitable materials for the fabrication
of dental restorations. Compatibility between the veneering ceramic and the substructure material under
mechanical and thermal loading is essential if they are to function in a prosthetic construction.
This document specifies requirements and test methods for assessing the risk of failure associated with
masticatory forces and the oral environment.

v
International Standard ISO 9693:2026(en)
Dentistry — Compatibility testing for metal-ceramic and
ceramic-ceramic systems
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and test methods to assess the thermomechanical compatibility
between a veneering ceramic and a metallic or ceramic substructure material used for dental restoratio
...