OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated two embrasure designs by measuring their differential effect on load at failure of provisional fixed partial dentures (FPDs) fabricated of five commercially available polymer-based restorative materials. METHODS: Five provisional C&B materials were selected to fabricate FPDs with two different embrasure designs: sharp vs. rounded embrasures (n=12 for each material). The test materials included: Telio CAD (Ivoclar-Vivadent), Coldpac (Motloid), Protemp Plus (3M), VersaTemp (Sultan), and Turbo Temp (Danville). The embrasures were formed using prefabricated cutters with measured Radii (0.002r and 0.03r) and a fixture to hold each provisional FPD in place for the uniform standardized cuts. Molds for the CAD/CAM provisional FPDs were used to fabricate the syringeable temporary materials and form bridges with the same geometric design. All provisional bridges were cemented using Temp-Bond (Kerr) to the corresponding standardized abutments and tested to failure in a universal Instron testing machine by loading each specimen compressively in the mid pontic region. The load at break was recorded in Newton. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the difference in each group’s mean. RESULTS: A significant difference in fracture load was found between the two groups of designs, in which the round embrasure was significantly stronger than was the sharp. A significant difference also was found between the type of temporary material used to fabricate the bridge in the two groups, and except for Coldpac, no significant difference between the embrasure anatomies was found. Fatigue loading did not appear to influence the two bridges’ fracture load, but it did show a significant difference with respect to the modulus of elasticity, in that the bridges that underwent fatigue loading showed a higher elastic modulus by comparison to the control group. Another variable that influenced the modulus of elasticity was the type of temporary material used to fabricate the bridge, in which TelioCAD was found to be the stiffest. However, the embrasure design did not seem to affect the bridges’ rigidity. CONCLUSION: A significant difference was found in fracture strength between the rounded and sharp embrasure design. Except for Coldpac, the rounded embrasure showed higher fracture toughness than did the sharp. No significant correlation was found between the two embrasure designs and the modulus of elasticity. Interestingly, the fatigued bridges that underwent cyclic loading showed a higher modulus of elasticity. The sharp embrasure design showed no fracture in the pontic region, while the rounded design did in 5.47% of the sample. This may be explained by the photoelastic bridges, in which the stress diffuses in the rounded design to include the pontic region, while in the sharp design, the stress is concentrated on the connector area. Stress analysis, both by means of photoelastic and finite element analysis, demonstrated that the bridge with the sharp embrasure design’s stress was high in the connector area compared to the round embrasure design.

Dentes tratados endodonticamente se encontram freqüentemente mutilados por cárie ou pelo próprio acesso ao canal. A estrutura dental remanescente necessita de tratamento especial para prevenir futuras fraturas. Quando uma grande parte da coroa dental foi perdida, é comum não haver retenção para a restauração na dentina remanescente. Nestas situações, uma restauração com retenção intracanal se faz necessária. Apenas a porção radicular pode oferecer a retenção apropriada para a instalação de uma coroa artificial estética e funcional. Diferentes técnicas podem ser usadas para a fabricação do retentor intra-radicular fundido. Neste estudo, foi escolhida a técnica direta para a confecção dos padrões de fundição em resina acrílica autopolimerizável. Usamos seis padrões metálicos com dimensões que simulavam dentes anteriores preparados para receber um retentor intra-radicular. Os condutos foram preenchidos com resina acrílica, usando um pincel bem fino, e pinos plásticos foram inseridos no interior dos canais. Após a polimerização do pino, adicionamos novas porções de resina acrílica para confecção das partes correspondentes aos núcleos. Essa técnica permite a correção de eventuais falhas, caso haja necessidade. Os padrões de fundição foram então incluídos em material de revestimento e fundidos em liga de níquel-cromo. O retentor intra-radicular fundido foi removido do revestimento e limpo. Apenas removemos os nódulos da superfície do metal, a qual recebeu, posteriormente, jateamento com óxido de alumínio. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a adaptação marginal de 54 retentores intra-radiculares fundidos, modelados com três resinas acrílicas autopolimerizáveis diferentes: 18 em DuraLay (Reliance Dental MFG Co., USA); 18 em Pattern Resin (GC Products, Japan); 18 em Cop Clas (Artigos Odontológicos Clássico Ltda., Brasil). Os retentores intra-radiculares fundidos foram assentados sobre os seis padrões metálicos. As fendas marginais foram observadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). As medições foram registradas e submetidas à análise estatística. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: (1) Os retentores intra-radiculares fundidos obtidos de padrões de fundição modelados com a resina DuraLay mostraram-se significativamente melhor adaptados (42,31 µm ± 9,54 µm) quando comparados aos retentores intra-radiculares fundidos obtidos de padrões das resinas Pattern Resin (73,25 µm ± 32,86 µm) e Cop Clas (95,32 µm ± 45,02 µm) respectivamente; (2) Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,273) na diferença média das fendas marginais dos retentores intra-radiculares fundidos modelados com a resina Pattern Resin e modelados com a resina Cop Clas (22,07 µm ± 13,13 µm). / Endodontically treated teeth are often mutilated by caries and access requirements. The remaining structure requires special treatment to prevent further destruction. When a large portion of the clinical crown has been lost, it is often impossible to achieve sufficient anchorage of a restoration in the remaining dentin. In such situations, a root-canal-retained restoration is required. Only the root portion can offer the needed retention for a functional and esthetic artificial crown. Different approaches can be taken to the fabrication of cast posts and cores. In this study, direct method was chosen to fashion it, by auto polymerizing acrylic resin. We used six standard metal patterns that simulate an anterior tooth prepared to receive cast post and core. Burn-out plastic patterns were fitted into the root canal and, using a fine sable hair brush, the polymer was introduced to fill the canal. After polymerization of the post, additional auto -polymerizing acrylic resin was added to form the core portion. This process can be repeated and correct if necessary. The acrylic resin patterns were then invested and casting was performed using nickel-chromium alloy. The cast was removed from investment. Cleaning was performed exclusively to remove the small positive nodules on the metal post and sandblast surface. The aim of this research was to compare the marginal fit of 54 cast posts constructed with three auto -polymerizing acrylic resins: 18 of DuraLay (Reliance Dental MFG Co., USA); 18 of Pattern Resin (GC Products, Japan); 18 of Cop Clas (Artigos Odontológicos Clássico Ltda., Brasil). The posts and cores were seated over the six standard metal patterns. Marginal discrepancies were bserved in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The measurements were registered and statistically analyzed. The results obtained showed that: (1) The cast post and core obtainedfrom DuraLay (42,31 µm ± 9,54 µm) had significant best fit than the cast post and core obtained from the others acrylic resins, Pattern Resin (73,25 µm ± 32,86 µm) and Cop Clas (95,32 µm ± 45,02 µm) respectively; (2) No significant statistic difference occur p=0,273) in the average marginal gap between the cast posts and cores obtained from Pattern Resin and Cop Class (22,07 µm ± 13,13 µm).

Dentes tratados endodonticamente se encontram freqüentemente mutilados por cárie ou pelo próprio acesso ao canal. A estrutura dental remanescente necessita de tratamento especial para prevenir futuras fraturas. Quando uma grande parte da coroa dental foi perdida, é comum não haver retenção para a restauração na dentina remanescente. Nestas situações, uma restauração com retenção intracanal se faz necessária. Apenas a porção radicular pode oferecer a retenção apropriada para a instalação de uma coroa artificial estética e funcional. Diferentes técnicas podem ser usadas para a fabricação do retentor intra-radicular fundido. Neste estudo, foi escolhida a técnica direta para a confecção dos padrões de fundição em resina acrílica autopolimerizável. Usamos seis padrões metálicos com dimensões que simulavam dentes anteriores preparados para receber um retentor intra-radicular. Os condutos foram preenchidos com resina acrílica, usando um pincel bem fino, e pinos plásticos foram inseridos no interior dos canais. Após a polimerização do pino, adicionamos novas porções de resina acrílica para confecção das partes correspondentes aos núcleos. Essa técnica permite a correção de eventuais falhas, caso haja necessidade. Os padrões de fundição foram então incluídos em material de revestimento e fundidos em liga de níquel-cromo. O retentor intra-radicular fundido foi removido do revestimento e limpo. Apenas removemos os nódulos da superfície do metal, a qual recebeu, posteriormente, jateamento com óxido de alumínio. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a adaptação marginal de 54 retentores intra-radiculares fundidos, modelados com três resinas acrílicas autopolimerizáveis diferentes: 18 em DuraLay (Reliance Dental MFG Co., USA); 18 em Pattern Resin (GC Products, Japan); 18 em Cop Clas (Artigos Odontológicos Clássico Ltda., Brasil). Os retentores intra-radiculares fundidos foram assentados sobre os seis padrões metálicos. As fendas marginais foram observadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). As medições foram registradas e submetidas à análise estatística. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: (1) Os retentores intra-radiculares fundidos obtidos de padrões de fundição modelados com a resina DuraLay mostraram-se significativamente melhor adaptados (42,31 µm ± 9,54 µm) quando comparados aos retentores intra-radiculares fundidos obtidos de padrões das resinas Pattern Resin (73,25 µm ± 32,86 µm) e Cop Clas (95,32 µm ± 45,02 µm) respectivamente; (2) Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,273) na diferença média das fendas marginais dos retentores intra-radiculares fundidos modelados com a resina Pattern Resin e modelados com a resina Cop Clas (22,07 µm ± 13,13 µm). / Endodontically treated teeth are often mutilated by caries and access requirements. The remaining structure requires special treatment to prevent further destruction. When a large portion of the clinical crown has been lost, it is often impossible to achieve sufficient anchorage of a restoration in the remaining dentin. In such situations, a root-canal-retained restoration is required. Only the root portion can offer the needed retention for a functional and esthetic artificial crown. Different approaches can be taken to the fabrication of cast posts and cores. In this study, direct method was chosen to fashion it, by auto polymerizing acrylic resin. We used six standard metal patterns that simulate an anterior tooth prepared to receive cast post and core. Burn-out plastic patterns were fitted into the root canal and, using a fine sable hair brush, the polymer was introduced to fill the canal. After polymerization of the post, additional auto -polymerizing acrylic resin was added to form the core portion. This process can be repeated and correct if necessary. The acrylic resin patterns were then invested and casting was performed using nickel-chromium alloy. The cast was removed from investment. Cleaning was performed exclusively to remove the small positive nodules on the metal post and sandblast surface. The aim of this research was to compare the marginal fit of 54 cast posts constructed with three auto -polymerizing acrylic resins: 18 of DuraLay (Reliance Dental MFG Co., USA); 18 of Pattern Resin (GC Products, Japan); 18 of Cop Clas (Artigos Odontológicos Clássico Ltda., Brasil). The posts and cores were seated over the six standard metal patterns. Marginal discrepancies were bserved in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The measurements were registered and statistically analyzed. The results obtained showed that: (1) The cast post and core obtainedfrom DuraLay (42,31 µm ± 9,54 µm) had significant best fit than the cast post and core obtained from the others acrylic resins, Pattern Resin (73,25 µm ± 32,86 µm) and Cop Clas (95,32 µm ± 45,02 µm) respectively; (2) No significant statistic difference occur p=0,273) in the average marginal gap between the cast posts and cores obtained from Pattern Resin and Cop Class (22,07 µm ± 13,13 µm).