Mechanical strength of tooth fragment reattachment

The aim of this study was static and fatigue test investigation of the stre ngth of a tooth fragment reattached with adhesives to the tooth body. Centr al bovine incisor teeth were used, and standardized fragments were obtained by cutting the incisal edge of the selected teeth. All the fragments were reattached using a multistep dentine adhesive system, and the specimens wer e randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group B specimens underwent a further dental treatment: a circumferential double chamfer prepared around the external cut interface was filled with light cured composite restorati ve resin. Static and fatigue bending tests were performed and linear elasti c equations were used to analyze and compare the strength of the treated te eth. The results indicated that the static and fatigue bending properties w ere improved by using reinforcement with composite restorative resin. (C) 2 001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 55: 629-636, 2001.