Comparison of Different Restoration Techniques for Endodontically Treated Teeth

Area of Science:

• Restorative Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Endodontics

Background:

• Endodontically treated teeth (ETT) often exhibit reduced fracture resistance.
• Evaluating various restorative materials and techniques is crucial for improving ETT longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the physical properties, particularly fracture resistance, of ETT restored with five different materials.
• To compare the performance of various restorative techniques against control groups (intact and unrestored teeth).

Main Methods:

• 140 extracted human molar teeth were divided into five restoration groups, a negative control (no restoration), and a positive control (intact teeth).
• Flexural strength and modulus of elasticity were tested on material specimens (ISO 4049).
• One-way ANOVA was used to analyze fracture resistance data.

Main Results:

• Restoration type significantly impacted fracture resistance (p < 0.05).
• The SFRC (short fiber-reinforced composite) group demonstrated the highest fracture resistance.
• Glass-ionomer cement (GWF) group exhibited the lowest fracture resistance.
• Flexural strength ranged from 140-184 MPa; modulus of elasticity ranged from 6.33-18.89 GPa.

Conclusions:

• SFRC is a viable material for enhancing the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.
• The choice of restorative material significantly influences the mechanical integrity of ETT.