title: Load-bearing capacity of fiber reinforced fixed composite bridges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the reinforcing effect of differently oriented fibers on the load-bearing capacity of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight composite FDPs were fabricated. Specimens were divided into eight groups (n = 6/group; codes 1-8). Groups 1 and 5 were plain restorative composites (Grandio and Z100) without fiber reinforcement, groups 2 and 6 were reinforced with a continuous unidirectional fiber substructure, groups 3 and 7 were reinforced with a continuous bidirectional fiber and groups 4 and 8 were reinforced with a continuous bidirectional fiber substructure and continuous unidirectional fiber. FDPs were polymerized incrementally with a handheld light curing unit for 40 s and statically loaded until final fracture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed that all groups had significantly different load-bearing capacities. Group 4 showed the highest mean load-bearing capacity and Group 7 the lowest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that continuous unidirectional fiber increased the mechanical properties of composite FDPs and bidirectional reinforcement slowed crack propagation on abutments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey. eminegb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Göncü Başaran
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayna
authors.forename: Sadullah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Üçtaşli
authors.forename: Pekka K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Vallittu
authors.forename: Lippo V J
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Lassila
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003781:Denture Retention; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; C509998:Grandio; C083568:Z100 composite resin; C496140:everStick; C009753:fiberglass; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015040:Zirconium