COMPARISON OF THE FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF ENDODONTICALLY TREATED TEETH RESTORED WITH DIRECT COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS VERSUS ENDOCROWNS- AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

Aim of the study The aim of the present study was to evaluate the compression resistance of endodontically treated teeth (ETT) restored by using two methods, direct composite restorations and indirect CAD/CAM endocrowns. Material and methods Endodontic treatment were performed on 10 extracted human teeth. After its completion, 5 teeth (Group 1) were restored with Tetric Ceram (Ivoclar Vivadent) composite direct restorations, and 5 with digitally scanned, designed, and milled TetricCAD (Ivoclar Vivadent) composite endocrowns (Group 2) adhesively cemented. Teeth were mechanically tested at compression with the help of a testing machine with an increasing force applied until samples’ fracture. The value of the force was registered for each sample, the means were calculated for each group and a statistical comparison analysis between groups was made. Results The fracture force applied on endocrowns was almost double than the one necessitated for the fracture of teeth restored with direct composite. Conclusions Endocrowns could be recommended as a solution for the restoration of ETT with significant loss of tooth structure due to their increased mechanical resistance.

Keywords

• endodontically treated teeth
• direct composite restorations
• endocrowns
• digital design
• cad/cam
• fracture strength