Influence of proximal contacts and FRC posts on the fracture behavior of premolars with class II composite restorations: An in-vitro study

: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the number of proximal contacts and fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) post insertion on the fracture behavior of endodontically treated premolars with class II (MOD) cavities and direct composite restorations. Forty-eight single-rooted human premolars were endodontically treated and prepared with standardized MOD (mesio-occluso-distal) cavities. One-half of the teeth additionally received FRC-posts (DT Light SL) luted with Panavia F resin cement. All of the specimens were restored with direct composite restorations, and the teeth were embedded in proximal contact with either zero, one or two adjacent tooth-replicas. Eight sound premolars served as control. After thermomechanical ageing, the samples were loaded until fracture at an angle of 30°. The sound teeth showed the highest mean fracture load. Teeth with one or two proximal contacts and FRC-posts showed only statistically insignificantly lower values. All of the other groups had significantly lower values.