Resistance to fracture of endodontically treated premolars restored with new generation dentine bonding systems

MOD cavities in 60 endodontically treated teeth were restored using six different methods. Copper rings were filled with commercial hard-setting cement and the teeth were placed up to the level of the cemento-enamel junction. The teeth were grouped according to restorative method, mounted in an Instron TT machine, and the buccal walls subjected to a slowly increasing compressive force until fracture occurred. The force of fracture of the walls of each tooth was recorded and the results in the various groups compared. All teeth fractured in a similar manner irrespective of the restorative method used. All groups restored with the newer bonding system had higher resistance to fracture than those restored with an acid etch chemically cured composite resin technique. The groups restored with Den-Mat Tenure Core Paste or a Variglass VLC base and Prisma APH were significantly stronger than the acid etch Concise restored teeth (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the other groups (P > 0.05).