Purpose: To evaluate in vitro the fracture load of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) anchored by use of composite inlays. The effects of span length, silica-coating, mechanical loading and framework material were also tested.
Methods: Defined box inlay cavities were made on a mandibular molar and a premolar. Fifty-six FPDs were manufactured using a polymer composite material and received an industrial prefabricated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) frame for stabilization. All FPDs underwent thermal cycling. The FPDs were divided into test groups simulating the effect of different span length (7 or 12 mm), tribochemically silicoating (yes or no) and mechanical loading (yes or no). The load to fracture was measured and fracture sites were evaluated. As a control group for the PMMA frame, a metal alloy frame was used, and evaluated under the most unfavorable conditions. The Mann-Whitney U-test followed by the Bonferroni correction was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The span length significantly affected the fracture load. Values ranged from 413 N for the 12 mm span length to 706 N for the 7 mm span length. Thermal cycling and mechanical loading significantly reduced fracture load values for FPDs with the 12 mm span length, but there were no significant effects for FPDs with 7 mm span length. Silicoating pretreatment of the metal abutments significantly reduced fracture load values. Replacement of the PMMA frame with a metal frame increased fracture load values up to 1,075 N.