title: The effect of E-glass fibers and acrylic resin thickness on fracture load in a simulated implant-supported overdenture prosthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implant overdenture prostheses are prone to acrylic resin fracture because of space limitations around the implant overdenture components.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of E-glass fibers and acrylic resin thickness in resisting acrylic resin fracture around a simulated overdenture abutment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model was developed to simulate the clinical situation of an implant overdenture abutment with varying acrylic resin thickness (1.5 or 3.0 mm) with or without E-glass fiber reinforcement. Forty-eight specimens with an underlying simulated abutment were divided into 4 groups (n=12): 1.5 mm acrylic resin without E-glass fibers identified as thin with no E-glass fiber mesh (TN-N); 1.5 mm acrylic resin with E-glass fibers identified as thin with E-glass fiber mesh (TN-F); 3.0 mm acrylic resin without E-glass fibers identified as thick without E-glass fiber mesh (TK-N); and 3.0 mm acrylic resin with E-glass fibers identified as thick with E-glass fiber mesh (TK-F). All specimens were submitted to a 3-point bending test and fracture loads (N) were analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed significant differences in fracture load among the 4 groups, with significant effects from both thickness (P<.001) and inclusion of the mesh (P<.001). Results demonstrated no interaction between mesh and thickness (P=.690). The TN-N: 39 ±5 N; TN-F: 50 ±6.9 N; TK-N: 162 ±13 N; and TK-F: 193 ±21 N groups were all statistically different (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fracture load of a processed, acrylic resin implant-supported overdenture can be significantly increased by the addition of E-glass fibers even when using thin acrylic resin sections. On a relative basis, the increase in fracture load was similar when adding E-glass fibers or increasing acrylic resin thickness.
authors: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Sao Paulo State University-UNESP-Brazil.
authors: Renato S
authors: RS
authors: Fajardo
authors: Lisa A
authors: LA
authors: Pruitt
authors: Frederick C
authors: FC
authors: Finzen
authors: Grayson W
authors: GW
authors: Marshall
authors: Sukhmani
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Sukhmony
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Donald A
authors: DA
authors: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018583:Pliability; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C009753:fiberglass; D014867:Water; C040291:Lucitone; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate