Clinical and scanning electron microscopic evaluation of fiber-reinforced inlay fixed partial dentures: Preliminary results after one year

Statement of problem. Restorative dentistry searches For nonmetal reinforce ment of esthetic fixed partial dentures (FPDs). Purpose. This clinical study evaluated conservative fiber-reinforced compos ite FPDs bonded to inlay abutments. Material and methods. Twenty fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were mad e for 15 patients. Restorations were manufactured with the Targis Vectris g lass-fiber-reinforced composite system and a simplified laboratory techniqu e. The 20 bonded inlay FPDs were examined clinically and by SEM after 1 yea r. Results. All 20 FPDs were intact at the 1-year examination. There were no s igns of fracture, surface defects, or excessive wear with SEM. SEM marginal analysis exhibited 91.6% +/- 5% excellent margins at the tooth-luting comp osite interface and 86.1% +/- 8% excellent margins at luting composite/rest oration interface. Conclusion. On the basis of the results of this descriptive study, bonded g lass-fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were considered clinically succe ssful at the 1-year examination.