A new reinforced intracoronal composite resin splint. Clinical results after 1 year

An intracoronal technique for semipermanent splinting of mobile or migrating teeth is described and clinically evaluated. Circumferential grooves of 1 to 1.5 mm depth were cut into the enamel in the occlusal third of the teeth to be splinted. The teeth were splinted by placing a polyester ligature in two or more figure-8 loops along the grooves, and sealing the grooves and interproximal contact areas with an acid-etch composite resin system. A total of 51 splints involving 183 teeth and 132 interproximal contact areas were placed in 34 patients. One year after insertion, 46 splints were found intact. Five splints presented with one fractured interdental element, each. Average mobility of the splinted teeth was 51% below the preoperative level. Splinting improved the masticatory comfort. The esthetic results were satisfactory.