The effect of mechanical loading on the cusp defection of premolars restored with direct and indirect techniques.

AIM

This study assessed the effect of fatigue load cycling on human premolars restored with MOD restorations (direct and indirect approaches) on cuspal defection, compared to intact teeth (unprepared) and unrestored teeth with an inlay preparation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MOD inlay preparations were performed on sixty premolars with their roots embedded in acrylic resin. These teeth were divided into six groups (n = 10): (1) intact teeth; (2) unrestored and prepared teeth; (3) teeth restored with direct composite resin; (4) teeth restored with an indirect composite resin; (5) teeth restored with injected ceramic inlays (IPS Empress 2 (Ivoclar); (6) teeth restored with CAD/CAM inlays made of feldspathic ceramic (Vita Mark II). All of the indirect restorations were adhesively cemented. Strain-gauges were bonded to the buccal and lingual surfaces of the specimens. Compressive axial loading of 100N was applied on the occlusal face of the specimens to measure the cuspal deflection (microstrain) under compressive loading. These measurements were obtained before and after mechanical cycling (1 Hz, 37°C, 100,000x).

RESULTS

Comparing the results obtained before and after fatiguing, the cuspal defection increased only in the CAD/CAM approach. The prepared tooth group had the highest cuspal defection, before and after mechanical cycling.

CONCLUSION

The evaluated restoring approaches decrease the cuspal defection, consequently appear to improve the cuspal reinforcement.