Effect of resin cements and aging on cuspal deflection and fracture resistance of teeth restored with composite resin inlays.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of resin cements and aging on cuspal deflection, fracture resistance, and mode of failure of endodontically treated teeth restored with composite resin inlays.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two maxillary premolars were divided into 6 groups: 1: sound teeth as control (C); 2: preparations without restoration (WR); 3: inlays luted with RelyX ARC (ARC); 4: inlays luted with RelyX Unicem (RLXU); 5: inlays luted with Maxcem Elite (MCE); 6: inlays luted with SeT (ST). Groups 2 to 6 received mesio-occlusal-distal preparations and endodontic treatment. Stone casts were made for groups 3 to 6. Composite resin inlays were built over each cast and luted with the resin cements. A 200-N load was applied on the occlusal aspect and the cuspal deflection was measured using a micrometer before and after 500,000 cycles of fatigue loading (200 N; 500,000 cycles). The specimens were then submitted to an axial load until failure.

RESULTS: The median cuspal deflection (µm) and median fracture resistance (N) were calculated and statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.01). Values followed by the same letter represent no statistically significant difference. Cuspal deflection before cyclic loading: C = 3 µma; ARC = 4 µmab; RLXU= 5 µmab; MCE = 21 µmb; ST = 51 µmbc; WR = 69 µmc. Cuspal deflection after cyclic loading: ARC = 6 µma; RLXU = 19 µmab; MCE = 33 µmb; ST = 62 µmb. Fracture resistance in N: C = 1902a; ARC = 980b; RLXU = 670c; MCE = 533c; ST = 601c; WR = 526c. According to the Wilcoxon test, there was no statistical difference between the cuspal deflection before and after cyclic loading only for ARC (p = 0.015). There was a predominance of recovery fractures for the restored groups.

CONCLUSION: Composite resin inlays luted with RelyX ARC maintained cuspal deflection stability and showed higher fracture resistance of the teeth than did inlays luted with the other cements tested.