Load-bearing capacity of fiber reinforced fixed composite bridges.

Emine Göncü Başaran, Emrah Ayna, Sadullah Üçtaşli, Pekka K Vallittu, Lippo V J Lassila

Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey. eminegb@hotmail.com

Acta odontologica Scandinavica 2013 Jan

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the reinforcing effect of differently oriented fibers on the load-bearing capacity of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Forty-eight composite FDPs were fabricated. Specimens were divided into eight groups (n = 6/group; codes 1-8). Groups 1 and 5 were plain restorative composites (Grandio and Z100) without fiber reinforcement, groups 2 and 6 were reinforced with a continuous unidirectional fiber substructure, groups 3 and 7 were reinforced with a continuous bidirectional fiber and groups 4 and 8 were reinforced with a continuous bidirectional fiber substructure and continuous unidirectional fiber. FDPs were polymerized incrementally with a handheld light curing unit for 40 s and statically loaded until final fracture. Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed that all groups had significantly different load-bearing capacities. Group 4 showed the highest mean load-bearing capacity and Group 7 the lowest. The results of this study suggest that continuous unidirectional fiber increased the mechanical properties of composite FDPs and bidirectional reinforcement slowed crack propagation on abutments.

Citation

Emine Göncü Başaran, Emrah Ayna, Sadullah Üçtaşli, Pekka K Vallittu, Lippo V J Lassila. Load-bearing capacity of fiber reinforced fixed composite bridges. Acta odontologica Scandinavica. 2013 Jan;71(1):65-71