To evaluate the fracture resistance of four core buildup materials: Amalgam, resin composite/dual cure, resin-modified glass ionomer, and SureFil packable composite restorative material under universal testing machine

Background: The compressive strength and tensile strength of core materials are thought to be important because core usually replaces large bulk of tooth structure and should resist multidirectional masticatory forces for many years. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of packable composite as Nayyar cores in comparison with other materials such as amalgam, resin-modified glass ionomer, and dual-cure composite resin. Materials and Methods: A total of 75 freshly extracted human mandibular premolars subjected for the study were stored in distilled water for not more than 4 months before the root canal filling procedure. They were then randomly divided into five groups, each group with 15 teeth. Results: Amalgam showed higher resistance to fracture (1.82kN), and resin composite showed the least resistance to fracture (0.68kN). Resin-modified glass ionomer (0.96kN) and packable composite (0.93kN) showed almost similar fracture resistance. Conclusion: Packable composite can be used as an alternative to amalgam core and resin-modified glass ionomer.