title: The design and fabrication of fiber-reinforced implant prostheses.
abstract: The use of fiber composite technology in the creation of metal-free implant prostheses may solve many of the problems associated with a metal alloy substructure such as corrosion, toxicity, complexity of fabrication, high cost, and esthetic limitations. Laboratory and clinical research evaluating glass fiber-reinforced composite prostheses used to restore and replace teeth has shown that these materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties and can form a chemical bond to resin-based veneer materials such as those used in the fabrication of certain types of implant prostheses. Two different designs of fiber-reinforced composite implant prostheses have been developed and placed in human subjects. One design (screw-retained, retrievable prosthesis) is used with implant abutments that allow for screw-retained prostheses; the other design is used with abutments that retain prostheses with a luting material. Both designs are described in this article. The prostheses have functioned well in a small group of preliminary subjects, but clinical trials with larger subject populations are needed to more completely evaluate the potential of fiber-reinforced composites in implant prosthodontics.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Conn., USA. freilich@nso2.uchc.edu
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Freilich
authors.forename: Jacqueline P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: E Karina
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Alarcon
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Eckrote
authors.forename: A Jon
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D002484:Cementation; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; C009753:fiberglass