Fracture Resistance in Fiber Reinforced Composite Restorations – An in Vitro Study

Abstract

The objective of our study was to expand knowledge on the versatility of dental composites as they make a reliable armamentarium for the clinician, whether he is restoring small dental defects or large cavities at the limits of conservative treatment. For this paper we have tested In vitro a possibility to enhance fracture resistance in lateral composite restorations by reinforcing them with glass fibers; as it was hypothesized that a glass fiber mesh would increase the cohesion of a composite restoration, thus its fracture resistance. Extracted sound teeth received a large composite restorations reinforced with a fiber glass net, and then subjected to vertical load until colapse. The results were that reinforced fillings resisted more to vertical load than conventional fillings and the remaining dental tissues suffered less from the failure of the restoration. Glass fiber reinforcement enhances intrinsic resistance of composite restorations and the restored tooth as a whole.