Strength and Elastic Modulus of Fiber-Reinforced Composites Used for Fabricating FPDs

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the flexural strength and elastic modulus of a new fiber-reinforced composite used for the fabrication of inlay-retained fixed partial dentures (FPD). Materials and Methods: A total of six materials were used: Vectris, FibreKor, and an experimental material, BR-100, were the types of glass fiber preimpregnated with resin used for making the frameworks; Targis, Sculpture, and Estenia were used as the veneering composites. Five specimens of each material were prepared. Flexural strength and elastic modulus were determined using the three-point bending test. In addition, laminate specimens were fabricated by combination of the veneering composite and framework materials (Targis/Vectris, Sculpture/FibreKor, and Estenia/BR-100), and fracture loads of these specimens were determined. Laminate specimens were fabricated with three different framework thicknesses for Estenia/BR-100. Results: Estenia had the greatest strength and highest modulus of elasticity of the veneering composites. All three framework materials had flexural strength values (567 to 686 MPa) more than three times as great as those of the veneering composites (132 to 193 MPa). Of the laminate specimens, the Estenia/BR-100 with a framework thickness of 1.0 mm had a fracture load more than 50% greater than Targis/Vectris and Sculpture/FibreKor. Conclusion: The combination of the experimental framework material BR-100 and the composite Estenia showed higher fracture loads than the other combinations tested.