Fracture resistance and adaptation of endocrowns based on a review of the literature

Abstract

The endocrown is a fixed prosthetic restoration, reconstructing the missing part of dental hard tissues. We distinguish composite, glass fiber-reinforced composite, and ceramic endocrowns. The aim of the study was to analyze fracture resistance and adaptation of the endocrowns, based on the literature reports found in PubMed, NCBI, Ebsco and Ovid services. Basing on the most recent Polish and foreign publications, the study reviews endocrowns and analyzes the test results of their mechanical strength and marginal seal. The advantages of endocrowns include the minimally invasive tooth preparation, high mechanical strength and more favourable distribution of stresses within the preserved part of the tooth. They ensure good marginal adaptation. Thanks to these features, the endocrown is a highly recommendable type of prosthetic restorations in molar teeth after endodontic treatment. The analysis of the literature indicates the possibility of using endocrowns as an alternative method of restoring endodontically treated molars that offers many advantages over the conventional methods of prosthetic rehabilitation.