Fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary premolars restored by silorane-based composite with or without fiber or nano-ionomer

PURPOSE: This in vitro study investigated the fracture resistance of endodontically treated premolars restored using silorane- or methacrylate-based composite along with or without fiber or nano-ionomer base. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six intact maxillary premolars were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 12). G1 (negative control) was the intact teeth. In Groups 2-8, root canal treatment with mesio-occlusodistal preparation was performed. G2 (positive control) was kept unrestored. The other groups were restored using composite resin as follows: G3, methacrylate-based composite (Z250); G4, methacrylate composite (Z250) with polyethylene fiber; G5 and G6, silorane-based composite (Filtek P90) without and with the fiber, respectively; G7 and G8, methacrylate- and silorane-based composite with nano-ionomer base, respectively. After aging period and thermocycling for 1000 cycles, fracture strength was tested and fracture patterns were inspected. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: Mean fracture resistance for the eight groups (in Newton) were G1: 1200 +/- 169a, G2: 360 +/- 93b, G3: 632 +/- 196c, G4: 692 +/- 195c, G5: 917 +/- 159d, G6: 1013 +/- 125ad, G7: 959 +/- 148d, G8: 947 +/- 105d (different superscript letters revealed significant difference among groups). Most of the fractures in all the groups were restorable, except Group 3. CONCLUSION: Silorane-based composite revealed significantly higher strength of the restored premolars compared to that of methacrylate one. Fiber insertion demonstrated no additional effect on the strength of both composite restorations; however, it increased the prevalence of restorable fracture of methacrylate-based composite restored teeth. Using nano-ionomer base under methacrylate-based composite had a positive effect on fracture resistance and pattern. Only fiber-reinforced silorane composite restoration resulted in a strength similar to that of the intact teeth.

Endodontic and prosthetic treatment of teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old-girl

This paper reports the nonsurgical endodontic therapy using calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing and prosthetic treatment of 9 teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old female patient. The periodontal treatment plan included oral hygiene instructions, mechanical debridement and gingivectomy in the maxillary incisors to improve gingival contouring. Root canal treatment was indicated for teeth 11-13, 21, 22, 42-45. After successive changes of a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing during 6 weeks, the size of the periapical radiolucencies decreased and lesion remission occurred after root canal obturation. The endodontically treated teeth received a bondable polyethylene reinforcement fiber (Ribbond) in the prepared canal space and crown buildup was done with composite resin. Prosthetic rehabilitation was planned with single-unit metal-ceramic crowns and fixed partial dentures. Clinical and radiographic evaluation after 6 months showed successful results. The outcomes of this case showed that chronic periapical lesions can respond favorably to nonsurgical endodontic treatment in adolescent patients and that, with proper indication, polyethylene fibers can provide an effective conservative and esthetic option for reinforcing endodontically treated teeth undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation.