Development and testing of fiber-reinforced composite space maintainers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically acceptable, cheaper, and more expedient alternative to standard stainless steel band and loop space maintainers.


METHODS
Loops of fiber-reinforced composites were constructed using polyethylene fiber (Ribbond) and glass fiber (Sticktech). The loops were bonded on extracted third molars and tested for flexural strength before and after thermocycling and following repair of the appliances after initial stress failure. Bacterial colonization on the appliances was also compared. Conventional stainless steel band and loop space maintainers cemented with Ketac were controls.


RESULTS
Ribbond samples demonstrated higher flexural strength than Sticktech and the control (P<.05). No differences were noted among the other samples and the control. The repaired Ribbond samples were statistically comparable in flexural strength to the initial samples. Thermocycling resulted in decreased flexural strength of both Ribbond and Sticktech (P<.05). Thermocycled Ribbond samples were comparable to the control, but a lower flexural strength was noted for Sticktech samples (P<.05). While all space maintainers allowed some bacterial adhesion, Sticktech showed higher Streptococcus mutans counts than Ribbond (P=.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Ribbond space-maintainers are comparable to the stainless steel in terms of physical strength and biofilm formation. The fiber-reinforced composite space maintainers may be a clinically acceptable and expedient alternative to the conventional band-loop appliance.
Kulkarni
Gajanan
G
Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. g.kulkarni@utoronto.ca
Lau
Domenic
D
Hafezi
Sara
S
D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000382:microbiology; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018583:Pliability; D011095:Polyethylenes; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D013027:Space Maintenance, Orthodontic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification
D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D011095:Polyethylenes; C084063:RIBBOND; C485628:Stick resin; C009753:fiberglass; D013193:Stainless Steel; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate