Intraoral repair of fiber-reinforced composite fixed partial dentures.
BACKGROUND
Fractured composite facings may result in replacement of a fixed partial denture unless a reliable intraoral repair method can be provided.


OBJECTIVE
This in vitro study tested the quality of an intraoral repair method for fractured facings of fixed partial dentures made of a fiber-reinforced composite system.


METHODS
Shear bond strengths of a light-curing composite to a fiber-reinforced composite material were determined after different mechanical surface treatments. Aluminum oxide air abrading provided the most reliable bond strength values and therefore was used as a pretreatment for the facing repair of three-unit posterior fixed partial dentures. Facing repair was performed with the tested light-curing hybrid composite. Facing fracture strengths of repaired and original fixed partial dentures were determined after thermocycling and mechanical loading.


RESULTS
Median facing fracture strength of the original fixed partial dentures was 1450 N after a simulated clinical service of 5 years. Facing fracture strengths of the repaired fixed partial dentures were significantly lower compared with the control group after an additional simulated 2-year interval. However, the median fracture force was still 1000 N.


CONCLUSIONS
The facing repair of a fiber-reinforced fixed partial denture with a hybrid composite in combination with aluminum oxide air-abrading pretreatment and silanization provided sufficient fracture strength. Therefore the replacement of the complete restoration may be avoided.
Rosentritt
M
M
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Clinics, Regensburg, Germany.
Behr
M
M
Leibrock
A
A
Handel
G
G
Friedl
K H
KH
D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003780:Denture Repair; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009055:Mouth; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013816:Thermodynamics
D000179:Acrylates; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003188:Composite Resins; D003738:Dental Cements; C076808:Monobond S; D019279:Resin Cements; D012821:Silanes; C090969:Tetric; C103502:Variolink; C040415:heliobond; D000537:Aluminum Oxide