The purpose of this study was to evaluate hardness (indicator for polymerization) and thickness of two types of resin cement at coronal, middle and apical level of tooth root canal. Ten extracted maxillary incisors were instrumented and post space was prepared for cementation of titanium post. Samples were divided into two groups and each group was cemented either of the two types of resin cements; Panavia F [dual-cured (PF)] and Rely X Luting 2 [self-cured (RL)]. The teeth were longitudinally sectioned; hardness and thickness was measured using Vickers hardness tester and a microscope (Leica DMLM). SEM observations along the cement line at the 3 different root levels were performed. Statistical analysis was performed to test significance of differences in hardness and thickness of the two types of cement (t-test; p= 0.05) and at different levels of the same type (one-way ANOVA followed by multiple comparison; p= 0.05). Significant difference of hardness was found at the apical level between the two groups and between the coronal and apical level of PF (p0.05). Moreover, voids were more obvious within the dual-cured group of cement. Dual-cured resin cement was found to be less polymerized than self-cured type at apical level. Increased thicknesses of resin cements in comparison to post space size were observed in both groups. Use of metallic post with resin cements needs further evaluation.
Resin-bonded fibre-reinforced composite bridges provide many advantages over the conventional
bridges or implant treatment in the management of a traumatically or congenitally missing anterior tooth.
Furthermore, there is an increasing demand towards providing a metal free resin-bonded bridges over the alloybased
restorations in order to meet the aesthetic needs especially in the anterior region. Advances in the
adhesive technology and tooth colored materials offer improved bonding system and better aesthetic outcome.
Nevertheless, careful selection of cases to receive this type of approach is also one of the key factor to ensure
the clinical survival of fibre-reinforced composite bridges. This report aims to present the use of fibre-reinforced
composite to construct indirect cantilever fibre-reinforced composite bridges as part of minimum intervention
dentistry.