Temporary space maintainers retained with composite resin. Part II: Fracture load in vitro.

The average fracture load during occlusal loading of pontics which were bonded to natural abutment teeth in vitro was found to be 56.1, 57.5 and 74.2 kg for natural, acrylic resin, and Restodent pontics, respectively. Coating the roots of the abutment teeth with a thin layer of silicone rubber before embedding them in stone slightly reduced the strength of the fixed partial dentures. Thermocycling the specimens with coated roots caused a considerable decrease in strength to fracture loads of 33.0, 17.9, and 37.3 kg for natural, acrylic resin, and Restodent pontics, respectively. Fracture of the enamel of natural tooth pontics was observed in a few specimens. The superior strength of the fixed partial dentures with natural tooth and Restodent pontics would indicate that these pontics are superior for clinical trials rather than acrylic resin pontics.