Mechanical properties of a light-polymerizing provisional restorative material with and without reinforcement fibers

Interim restorations are vulnerable to inadvertent fracture during mastication. Autopolymerizing acrylic resins have traditionally been selected for fabrication of provisional restorations. Triad light-polymerizing tooth-colored acrylic resin was recently introduced as an alternative material for this procedure. This material does not contain methyl methacrylate monomer and permits an increased working time. Heavy occlusal forces may initiate cracks within these restorations, and propagation of these cracks may ultimately lead to failure. Various forms of reinforcement fibers are available and are marketed for strengthening dental resins used for provisional restorations. Investigators have demonstrated that the mechanical properties of acrylic resins may be improved with the incorporation of reinforcing fibers, but a published evaluation of fiber-reinforced light-polymerizing provisional restorative materials is lacking. This investigation recorded and compared two mechanical properties of one light-polymerizing provisional restorative material with and without incorporation of vertically and horizontally oriented woven, matted, polyethylene fibers. No significant difference in modulus of rupture was recorded between groups with and without fibers. The mean flexural elastic modulus of the group with the horizontally oriented fibers was significantly greater than the mean flexural elastic modulus of the specimens without incorporated fibers.