The strength and the self-cleaning function of composite resin high strength fiber space maintainer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the mechanical properties and bacterial adhesion of the glass fiber-reinforced composite resin space maintainer.Methods The mechanical properties of the composite resin high-strength fiber （experimental group） and the band and loop type （control group） space maintainer were tested by universal material testing machine. The two types of space maintainer were placed on a plate with a strain of Streptococcus mutans. Scanning electron microscopy and viable cell counts were used to observe bacterial attachment.Results There was no significant difference in the maximum shear resistance between the experimental group（32.02 ± 4.315）N and the control group （33.35 ± 5.154）N space maintainer （P > 0.05）. Scanning electron microscope showed that streptococcal bacteria were attached to the surface of the two groups. The colony count quantity of the experimental group （10.02 ± 2.315） ×104 CFU/mL was decreased compared with that of the control group （14.35 ± 2.154） ×104 CFU/mL. The difference was statistically significant （P < 0.05）.Conclusion The composite resin high-strength fiber and the band and loop type space maintainer have comparable mechanical strength; however, the composite resin high-strength fiber bacteria adheres less than the band and loop type, and the self-cleaning function is relatively good.

Keywords

• early loss of primary molars
• space maintainer
• composite resin high-strength fiber
• band and loop
• mechanical properties
• bacterial adhesion
• self-cleaning function