Background: Fiber reinforced composite (FRC) is a promising class of material that gives clinicians alternative treatment options.There are many FRC products available in the market based on either glass or polyethylene fiber type.The aim of this study was to present a comparison between glass and polyethylene fiber reinforced composites based on available literature review.Material and Methods: A thorough literature search, with no limitation, was done up to June 2017.The range of relevant publications was surveyed using PubMed and Google Scholar.From the search results, articles related to our search terms were only considered.An assessment of these articles was done by two individuals in order to include only articles directly compare between glass and polyethylene FRCs.The search terms used were "fiber reinforced dental composites" and "glass and polyethylene fibers in dentistry" Results: The search provided 276 titles.Full-text analysis was performed for 29 articles that met the inclusion criteria.Most were laboratory-based research with various test specimen designs prepared according to ISO standard or with extracted teeth and only three articles were clinical studies.Most of studies (n=23) found superior characteristics of glass FRCs over polyethylene FRCs.Conclusions: Significant reinforcement differences between commercial glass and polyethylene fiber reinforced composites were found.
Excessive cavity preparation and root canal treatment leads to a weakened tooth structure with a lower resistance to fracture. Fiber reinforcement is frequently used to reinforce such teeth, and multiple fiber types and possible applications exist. Various methods for utilizing long fibers to internally splint the remaining cavity walls in the case of large mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities have been proposed; however, no summary of their performance has been written up to now. Our study aims to review the available literature to evaluate and compare the mechanical performance of the different materials and methods utilized for horizontal splinting in large MOD cavities. Three independent authors performed a thorough literature search using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar up until January 2022. The authors selected in vitro studies that used long fibers placed horizontally in posterior teeth with large MOD cavities to reinforce these teeth. From 1683 potentially relevant articles, 11 publications met our inclusion criteria. Seven out of eleven studies showed that horizontal splinting with long fibers improved the fracture resistance of the restored teeth. Three articles showed no significant difference between the fracture resistance of the restored groups. Only one article reported a lower fracture resistance to the horizontally splinted group, compared to conventional direct composite restoration. Within the limitations of this review, evidence suggests that long fiber reinforcement could be used to improve the fracture resistance of heavily restored teeth.
The aim of this article was to compare the colour stability of short fibre-reinforced computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) composite (SFRC CAD) to commercially available CAD/CAM materials following prolonged immersion in a variety of beverages. Furthermore, the influence of the polishing technique was evaluated.
This study aimed to evaluate the flexural strength (FS), surface wear, and optical properties of 3D-printed dental resins subjected to different post-printing conditions. A total of 240 specimens (2 × 2 × 25 mm³) were 3D-printed using resin materials for permanent (VaresoSmile Crown Plus) VSC and temporary (VaresoSmile Temp) VST restorations. Specimens underwent five post-printing conditions: no post-printing cure; post-cured in a Form Cure curing unit; Visio Beta Vacuum; Ivoclar Targis; or heat-cured (150 °C) for 30 min. Each group of specimens (n = 24) was tested either directly after post-curing, after 24 h of dry storage, or following hydrothermal accelerated aging in boiling water for 16 h. The three-point bending test was used to evaluate the FS. The two-body wear test was performed on 50 disc-shaped specimens (n = 5/group). Surface gloss and translucency were measured for permanent VSC specimens (n = 5/group). SEM/EDS and statistical analyses were performed. The Form Cure device yielded the highest FS and lowest wear depth (p < 0.05). Hydrothermal aging significantly reduced FS. There were no statistical differences in FS and wear values between materials subjected to same post-printing conditions. VSC groups exhibited similar optical properties across different post-printing treatments. Post-printing treatment conditions had a significant impact on the FS and wear of the 3D-printed resin, while optical properties remained unaffected.
The aim was to examine the influence of short-fiber composite (SFC) core on the fracture-behavior of different types of indirect posterior restorations. In addition, the effect of thickness ratio of SFC-core to the thickness of the veneering conventional composite (PFC) on fracture-behavior of bi-structured composite restorations was evaluated.MOD cavities with removed palatal cusps were prepared on 90 intact molars. Five groups of direct overlay restorations (n = 10/group) were fabricated having a SFC-core (everX Flow) with various thicknesses (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 mm) and layer of surface PFC (G-aenial Anterior), remaining the thickness of the bi-structure restoration to be 5 mm. Four groups of CAD/CAM-made restorations (Cerasmart 270 and e-max CAD) were fabricated either with 2-mm layer of SFC-core or without fiber reinforcement. Intact teeth (n = 10) were used as control group. Restorations were statically loaded until fracture. Fracture patterns were evaluated visually. Data were analyzed using ANOVA (p = 0.05).With indirect overlay restorations, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the load-bearing capacities between restorations reinforced by 2-mm SFC-core (bi-structured) and those fabricated from plain restorative materials. ANOVA displayed that direct overlay restorations made from 4-mm layer thickness of SFC-core had significantly higher load-bearing capacities (3050 ± 574 N) (p < 0.05) among all the groups tested.Restorations (direct/indirect) combining SFC-core and a surface layer of conventional material demonstrated encouraging achievement in reference to fracture behavior.The use of flowable short-fiber composite as reinforcing base with large direct and indirect restorations may result in more repairable failure.
The advances in the materials and techniques for adhesive dentistry have allowed the development of non-invasive or minimally invasive approaches for replacing a missing tooth in those clinical situations when conservation of adjacent teeth is needed. Good mechanical and cosmetic/aesthetic properties of fiber-reinforced composite (FRC), with good bonding properties with composite resin cement and veneering composite are needed in FRC devices. Some recent studies have shown that adhesives of composite resins and luting cements allow diffusion of the adhesives to the FRC framework of the bridges. By this so-called interdiffusion bonding is formed [1]. FRC bridges can be made in dental laboratories or chairside. This article describes a clinical case of chairside (directly) made FRC Bridge, which was used according to the principles of minimal invasive approach. Treatment was performed by Professor Vallittu from the University of Turku, Finland.
A variety of therapeutic modalities can be used for the endodontic treatment of a traumatized tooth with internal root resorption (IRR).The authors present a case report of the successful restoration of a traumatized upper central incisor that was weakened due to severe IRR and subsequent periapical lesion formation.A 20-year-old female patient was referred to our clinic with severe internal resorption and subsequent periapical pathosis destroying the buccal bone wall.Root canal treatment had been initiated previously at another dental practice, but at that time, the patient's condition could not be managed even with several treatments.After cone-beam computed tomography imaging and proper chemomechanical cleaning, the tooth was managed with a mineral trioxide aggregate plug followed by root canal filling using short fiber-reinforced composite, known as the Bioblock technique.This report is the first documentation of the use of the Bioblock technique in the restoration of a traumatized tooth.The Bioblock technique appears to be ideal for restoring wide irregular root canals, as in cases of severe internal resorption, because it can uniquely fill out the hollow irregularities of the canal.However, further long-term clinical investigations are required to provide additional information about this new technique.
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the fracture resistance and failure type of maxillary incisor teeth, rebuilt with various types of post-core restorations and full crowns made of either direct conventional particulate filler composite (PFC, G-aenial Anterior, GC, Tokyo, Japan) or indirect CAD/CAM restorations (composite Cerasmart 270 and glass ceramic LiSi Block from GC). One hundred (n = 10/group) central incisors were cut and divided into 10 experimental groups restored with different approaches. In approach A, teeth were restored with a core build-up composite (Gradia Core, GC) for a core and full crown of PFC. Approach B had teeth restored using composite core and prefabricated fiber posts, and a complete crown of either PFC or CAD/CAM. Approach C contained teeth restored with a core of short fiber-reinforced composite (everX Flow, GC) and prefabricated fiber posts, and a complete crown of either PFC or CAD/CAM. In approach D, the teeth had a core of short fiber-reinforced composite only, and a complete crown of either PFC or CAD/CAM restorations. The root canals were prepared, and when posts were used, they were luted with either a dual-cure resin cement (LinkForce, GC) or everX Flow. As the control, sound teeth (n = 10) were used. Restorations were quasi-statically loaded until fracture. Failure type was visually investigated. The interface between the fiber post and luting cement was investigated using SEM, before and after completion of the loading test. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance (p = 0.05) followed by Tukey’s test. None of the restorative approaches restored the fracture load strength of intact teeth (p < 0.05). Restorations with additional fiber posts (Approaches B and C) had higher load-bearing capacity (p < 0.05) than restorations without fiber posts (Approaches A and D). Restorations that had short fiber-reinforced composite cores with or without fiber posts presented more repairable failures. Using short fiber-reinforced composite as post-luting and core build-up material with conventional fiber posts proved to be a promising method to strengthen severely damaged incisors.