Effect of a new restoration technique on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a new fiber-reinforced composite restoration technique on fracture resistance in endodontically treated premolars. Eighty sound extracted human mandibular premolars were assigned to four groups (n = 20). Group 1 did not receive any treatment. In groups 2, 3 and 4, the teeth received root canal treatment and a mesio-occluso-distal cavity preparation. Group 2 was kept unrestored. Group 3 was restored with a dentin bonding system and composite resin. In group 4, a piece of polyethylene ribbon fiber was inserted into the groove in a buccal to lingual direction during the restoration of teeth with dentin bonding system and composite resin. After finishing and polishing, the specimens were stored in 100% humidity at 37 degrees C for 24 h and placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the long axis of the tooth and subjected to compressive loading in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm min(-1). The load necessary to fracture the samples was recorded in Newton (N) and submitted to Kruskal-Wallis anova and Mann-Whitney U-test. The fracture strength of the teeth reinforced with a combination of polyethylene fiber and composite resin were not significantly different than those that were restored with only composite resin (P > 0.05). However, most of the failure modes of the reinforced teeth were limited to the level of the enamel, while the other three groups showed fractures generally at the level of the dentin, cemento-enamel junction or more below (P < 0.05). Therefore, polyethylene ribbon fiber-reinforced composite resin restorations seemed a more reliable restorative technique than traditional composite restorations for extensive cavities.