Fracture strength and nanoleakage of weakened roots reconstructed using relined glass fiber-reinforced dowels combined with a novel prefabricated core system.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate fracture strength and nanoleakage of endodontically treated weakened teeth after being restored with relined glass fiber-reinforced dowels and two types of cores.


METHODS
Sixty sound human decoronated and endodontically treated teeth were embedded in epoxy resin blocks, then divided into three groups (n = 20) according to the method of root reconstruction. Group 1 (control): nonweakened roots were restored with glass fiber-reinforced dowels (UNIC); group 2: weakened roots restored with glass fiber-reinforced dowels relined with composite resin; group 3: weakened roots restored with glass fiber-reinforced dowels and a thick layer of luting cement. Dowels were cemented using Corposit, a dual-cured adhesive resin cement, then each group was assigned into two subgroups (n = 10) according to the type of core used; subgroup a: custom-made core using the same luting cement, subgroup b: prefabricated glass fiber-reinforced core (UNIC). Half the specimens of each subgroup were individually mounted at 45° angles and statically compressed until fracture at a 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed with a 5 kN load cell. The type of failure was assessed using a magnification lens. The other half of the specimens were removed from the block, placed in silver nitrate solution for 24 hours followed by photo developer for 8 hours, then examined using environmental scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive analytical X-ray for nanoleakage evaluation. Data were statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The nonweakened group recorded the highest fracture strength values. The composite relined group showed significantly higher fracture strength values than the cement group. The prefabricated core yielded higher fracture strength values than the custom-made core. All groups showed a degree of nanoleakage, with higher scores recorded for the composite group.


CONCLUSIONS
The fracture resistance of wide root canals can be improved by using glass fiber-reinforced dowels relined with composite resin as an alternative to increasing the thickness of luting cement; however, the percentage nanoleakage would increase. On the other hand, the recently introduced prefabricated glass fiber-reinforced core can be considered a promising technique, but further investigations are necessary.
Lecturer, Department of Crown and Bridge, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Girls' Branch, Cairo, Egypt.
Rania A
RA
Amin
Mona H
MH
Mandour
Ossama Saleh
OS
Abd El-Ghany
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000145:classification*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D016622:Silver Staining; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000628:therapy*
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D019279:Resin Cements; C009753:fiberglass
Flared roots; fracture resistance; prefabricated core; silver nitrate