Fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with combined composite-amalgam restorations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the resistance to fracture of endodontically treated teeth restored with combined composite-amalgam restorations in comparison to all-amalgam restorations. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Forty-eight human premolar teeth were equally divided into 4 groups. Mesio-occlusodistal (MOD) cavities were prepared in 3 groups, and in the fourth group, a modified MOD preparation was designed with an additional buccolingual groove. All teeth were endodontically treated and restored using 1 of several restorative modalities: all amalgam (AM), all amalgam plus dentin adhesive (ADA), amalgam plus dentin adhesive plus composite resin (ADAC), and amalgam plus dentin adhesive plus composite resin with a modified preparation design (ADACM). Specimens were tested in a universal testing machine (Instron). The load (in kilonewtons) at fracture was recorded and statistically analyzed using a Bonferroni one-way statistical analysis (significance: P