Root Canal Filling: Fracture Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Composite-Restored Roots and Finite Element Analysis

Effect of three different veneering techniques on the stress distribution and in vitro fatigue behavior of core-veneer all-ceramic fixed partial dentures

Background. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the veneering technique on the tensile stress distribution and survival of full-ceramic fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Methods. A three-dimensional model of an FDP was modeled on a second premolar and a second molar with a pontic between them for finite element analysis (FEA). The groups were divided according to the veneering technique: conventional stratification, rapid layer, and CAD-on techniques. A mesh control test determined the number of elements and nodes. The materials' properties were attributed to each solid component with isotropic, homogeneous, and linear elastic behavior. For the in vitro fatigue test (n=30), the FDPs were cemented on dentin analog abutments and submitted to 2×10⁶ mechanical cycles (100 N at 3 Hz). Results. Maximum principal stress showed that the connector between the pontic and the second molar concentrated higher stresses, regardless of the techniques: Rapid layer (6 MPa) > CAD-on (5.5 MPa) > conventional stratification (4 MPa). The conventional stratification technique concentrated high stresses at the interface between the framework and veneering ceramic (2 MPa), followed by the rapid layer (1.8 MPa) and CAD-on (1.5 MPa) techniques. The crowns fabricated using the rapid layer and CAD-on techniques exhibited a 100% survival rate, while the conventional stratification group had 0% survival. Conclusion. Even with similar stress distribution between the veneering techniques, the conventional stratification technique was more prone to failure under fatigue due to higher defects incorporated than CAD-on and rapid layer techniques.

Fracture resistance of simulated immature teeth after different intra-radicular treatments

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of simulated immature teeth after different intra-radicular treatments. Crowns and roots of bovine incisors were cut transversally and removed to simulate immature teeth. Root canal preparation and flaring were performed using a bur in crown-apex and apex-crown direction. The samples were distributed into 5 groups (n=10): Positive control (PoC) - no root canal flaring or filling; Negative control (NeC) - teeth were sectioned and their root canals were flared; Direct anatomical glass fiber post (RaP) - #2 Reforpost main glass fiber post relined with composite resin; Double tapered conical glass fiber posts (ExP) - #3 Exacto glass fiber post; and #2 Reforpost main glass fiber + Reforpin accessory glass fiber posts (RrP). In RaP, ExP and RrP, 4.0-mm apical plugs were done with MTA Angelus. The specimens were embedded in polystyrene resin inside cylinders and the periodontal ligament was simulated with a polyether-based impression material. The specimens were submitted to compressive fracture strength test (0.5 mm/min at 135° relative to the long axis of the tooth) in a servo-hydraulic mechanical testing machine MTS 810. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's C or Tukey's tests (α=0.05). The control groups (PoC and NeC) showed lower fracture strength than the experimental groups. NeC presented the lowest resistance and ExP presented the highest resistance among the experimental groups. The flaring procedures produced a detrimental effect on the fracture resistance of the bovine teeth. Glass fiber intra-radicular posts increased significantly the fracture resistance of simulated immature teeth.

Stress Generated by Customized Glass Fiber Posts and Other Types by Photoelastic Analysis

Endodontic posts are necessary to provide adequate retention and support when no sufficient remaining structure is available to retain the core. There are different materials and techniques to construct post-and-core, but there is no consensus about which one promotes better stress distribution on the remaining tooth structure. This study aimed to quantify and evaluate the distribution of stress in the root produced by customized glass fiber posts compared to different endodontic posts. Twenty-five simulated roots from photoelastic resin were made and divided into 5 groups: CPC, cast post-and-core; SP, screw post; CF, carbon fiber post; GF, glass fiber post; and CGF, customized glass fiber post. After cementing CPC and SP posts with zinc phosphate cement, and CF, GF and CGF posts with resin cement, resin cores were made for groups 2-5. Specimens were evaluated with vertical or 45° oblique loading. To analyze the fringes, the root was divided into 6 parts: palatal cervical, palatal middle, palatal apical, vestibular cervical, vestibular middle, and vestibular apical. The formed fringes were photographed and quantified. Data were recorded and subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%). SP (1.95±0.60) showed higher stress (p<0.05) compared to the others (CPC-0.52±0.74; CF-0.50±0.75, GF-0.23±0.48 and CGF-0.45±0.83). All posts showed high stress in apical third (CPC-1.40±0.65; SP-2.30±0.44, CF-1.80±0.45, GF-1.20±0.45, CGF-1.70±1.03) Low stress was found in cervical third (CPC-0.20±0.45; CF-0.00±0.00, GF-0.00±0.00, CGF-0.00±0.00), except by SP (1.90±0.65), which showed statistical difference (p<0.05). Customized post showed high stress concentration at the root and conventional glass fiber posts showed more favorable biomechanical behavior.

Canal preparation and filling techniques do not influence the fracture resistance of extensively damaged teeth

The purpose of this study was to assess the fracture resistance of extensively damaged teeth after two root canal preparation techniques (hand and rotary files) and after two filling techniques (active and passive compaction). Sixty-eight maxillary canines roots with an apical diameter equal to that of a #25 K-file were embedded in acrylic resin and the periodontal ligament was simulated by using a polyether impression material. The roots were randomly distributed into four groups (n=17): hand preparation and active compaction (HA), hand preparation and passive compaction (HP), rotary preparation and active compaction (RA), and rotary preparation and passive compaction (RP). All roots were restored with glass fiber post and metallic crown. The specimens were mechanically cycled (500,000 cycles, 45 °, 37 °C, 133 N, 2 Hz) and then subjected to a fracture resistanhe fracture resistance values ranged between 621.15 N (HP) and 785.71 N (HA). However, the Kruskal-Wallis test did not reveal differences in the fracture ce test. A single blinded examiner analyzed the external root surface and classified the failure pattern as favorable or unfavorable. Tresistance values among the four groups (p =0.247). Under the tested conditions, root canal preparation and filling techniques had no influence on the fracture resistance of extensively damaged teeth restored with fiber post and metallic crown.