Polyethylene Fiber-reinforced Composite Inlay Fixed Partial Dentures: Two-year Preliminary Results

Purpose: Polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay fixed partial dentures (FPDs) have been under development for some time. There is a lack of data on the clinical performance of such prostheses. This prospective clinical study evaluated the clinical performance of polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite FPDs over two years. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were fabricated for 19 patients. The treatment plan included removal of the existing restorations, placement of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP) fiber ribbon, and final restoration with a light-curing hybrid resin. The 28 polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were examined clinically after 2 years. Results: All 28 FPDs were intact at the 2-year examination. There were no signs of fracture, debonding, or discoloration. Conclusion: Based on the results of this descriptive study, the polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were considered clinically successful at the 2-year examination. Parole chiave: ribbon, fiber-reinforced composite, inlay FPDs, polyethylene fiber, inlay retained FPDs