Fiber Reinforced Composites

The technology and materials available to today's restorative dentists offer various solutions to many complex problems. Missing tooth structure can be replaced through the use of adhesives or metal-ceramic crowns, and missing teeth can be replaced with any of a variety of fixed prostheses supported by teeth or implants. Porcelain-fused-to-metal substructures continue to be a mainstay of fixed prosthodontics,and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer remains the material of choice for complete denture bases. But we now also have a new emerging material that is Fiber Reinforced composites (FRC).

Fiber-reinforced materials have highly favorable mechanical properties, and their strength-to-weight ratios are superior to those of most alloys. When compared to metals they offer many other advantages as well, including non-corrosiveness, translucency good bonding properties, and ease of repair. They also offer the potential for chair side and laboratory fabrication. Fiber-reinforced composites have potential for use in many applications in dentistry and are expected to gain increasing application and popularity in dentistry.

Fiber-reinforced materials have wide potential for application in a variety or clinical situations, but the clinician must understand the basic structure of these materials and the different types available. Awareness of the advantages and limitations of each type of FRC enables the clinician to select the best FRC material for each clinical situation.

For splints, crowns, and fixed prosthesis, the clinician must be able to make FRC tooth preparations that allow the dental laboratory to place an adequate volume of FRC to make a durable, biocompatible framework and prosthesis. The clinician needs to understand framework design concepts because there is strong evidence that this is a crucial factor in the success or failure of a fiber-reinforced prosthesis. Lastly the clinician must be able to perform techniques for luting an indirect prosthesis or fabricating a direct prosthesis or appliance.

Product	Company	Fibre Type	Fibre Architecture
Pre-impregnated Dental Laboratory Products
FibreKor	Jeneric/ Pentron	Glass	Unidirectional
Vectris Pontic	Ivoclar	Glass	Unidirectional
Vectris Frame & Single	Ivoclar	Glass	Mesh
Pre-impregnated Chairside Products
Splint-It	Jeneric/ Pentron	Glass	Unidirectional
Splint-It	Jeneric/ Pentron	Glass	Weave
Splint-It	Jeneric/ Pentron	Polyethylene	Weave
Impregnation Required, Chairside Products
Connect	Kerr	Polyethylene	Braid
DNA Fibres	Dental Ventures	Polyethylene	Unidirectional
Fibre Splint	Inter Dental Distributors	Glass	Weave
Fibreflex	Biocomp	Keviar	Unidirectional
GlasSpan	GlasSpan	Glass	Braid
Ribbond	Ribbond	Polyethylene	Leno Weave
Pre-impregnated prefabricated Posts
C-Post	Bisco	Carbon	Unidirectional
FibreKor	Jeneric/ Pentron	Glass	Unidirectional

Applications of Fiber in Dentistry

1.Chairside tooth replacements (mostly single tooth)
2. Periodontal splints
3. Fiber post for Endodontic use
4. Orthodontic retainer and space maintainers
5. Implant prosthesis
6. Large span bridge ant./post. (lab fabrication)
7. Management of cracked tooth
8. Anchorage reinforcement in orthodontics