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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the flexural strength and elastic modulus
of a new fiber-reinforced composite used for the fabrication of inlay-retained fixed partial
dentures (FPD). Materials and Methods: A total of six materials were used: Vectris, FibreKor,
and an experimental material, BR-100, were the types of glass fiber preimpregnated with
resin used for making the frameworks; Targis, Sculpture, and Estenia were used as the
veneering composites. Five specimens of each material were prepared. Flexural strength
and elastic modulus were determined using the three-point bending test. In addition,
laminate specimens were fabricated by combination of the veneering composite and
framework materials (Targis/Vectris, Sculpture/FibreKor, and Estenia/BR-100), and fracture
loads of these specimens were determined. Laminate specimens were fabricated with three
different framework thicknesses for Estenia/BR-100. Results: Estenia had the greatest strength
and highest modulus of elasticity of the veneering composites. All three framework
materials had flexural strength values (567 to 686 MPa) more than three times as great as
those of the veneering composites (132 to 193 MPa). Of the laminate specimens, the
Estenia/BR-100 with a framework thickness of 1.0 mm had a fracture load more than 50%
greater than Targis/Vectris and Sculpture/FibreKor. Conclusion: The combination of the
experimental framework material BR-100 and the composite Estenia showed higher fracture
loads than the other combinations tested. Int J Prosthodont 2003;16:549–553.
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