Historical Perspectives IV: Creative Management of Fractured Teeth

Various contemporary efforts have been advocated to strengthen root-treated teeth to prevent fracture; or to manage teeth that exhibit fractures. These efforts have favored the use of newer, adhesive materials, incorporating horizontally transfixed fiberglass posts to stabilize the fractured segments. Results have been encouraging, as teeth tested have exhibited fracture resistance similar to that found with onlays. However, this concept is not new and in spite of not having the advantages of adhesive dental materials, including the fiberglass posts, efforts that were made close to 100 years ago to stabilize and retain fractured teeth were reasonably successful.