Mechanical Strength of Tooth Fragment Reattachment

The aim of this study is to investigate, through static and fatigue tests, the strength of a tooth fragment reattached with adhesives to the tooth body. Central bovine incisor teeth were used and standardised 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 were randomly divided in two groups (A and B). Group B specimens underwent a further dental treatment: i.e. a circumferential double chamfer prepared around the external cut interface was filled with light cured composite restorative resin. Static and fatigue bending tests were performed and linear elastic equations were used to analyse and compare the strength of the treated teeth. The results indicated that the static and fatigue bending properties are improved by using reinforcement with composite restorative resin.