Thermoplastic composites for veneering posterior teeth-a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study was conducted to explore selected commercially-available thermoplastic composites that potentially had physical properties superior to currently available dental systems for restoring esthetic posterior crowns.


METHODS
Polyurethane, polycarbonate, and poly(ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) composites and unfilled polyurethane specimens were injection molded to produce shapes adaptive to five standardized mechanical tests. The mechanical testing included abrasive wear rate, yield strength, apparent fracture toughness (strength ratio), flexural strength, and compressive strength.


RESULTS
Compared to commercially available dental composites, abrasion wear rates were lower for all materials tested, yield strength was greater for the filled polycarbonates and filled polyurethane resins, fracture toughness testing was invalid (strength ratios were calculated for comparison of the pilot test materials), flexural strength was roughly similar except for the filled ETFE which was significantly greater, and compressive strength was lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Commercially available thermoplastic resin composites, such as polyurethane, demonstrate the potential for development of an artificial crown material which exceeds the mechanical properties of currently available esthetic systems, if compressive strength can be improved.
Gegauff
Anthony G
AG
Section of Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Endodontics, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA. gegauff.1@osu.edu
Garcia
Jose L
JL
Koelling
Kurt W
KW
Seghi
Robert R
RR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003801:Dental Veneers; D004548:Elasticity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry; D018583:Pliability; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D003188:Composite Resins; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010969:Plastics; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; C017902:lexan; C040378:poly(ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene); C005506:polycarbonate; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene