Implant-fixed, dental bridges from carbon/graphite fibre reinforced poly(methyl methacrylate).

Conventional bridge frameworks of gold alloys are expensive. A method for preparing bridges from carbon/graphite reinforced poly(methyl methacrylate) on titanium implants is described. After a separate in vitro investigation of both heat- and auto polymerized systems with different quantities of carbon/graphite fibres, the material system was selected. Clinical data on 11 patients with observation periods from 11 to 24 mnth indicated that the carbon/graphite fibre reinforced polymer bridges functioned satisfactorily.