This study evaluated the influence of alveolar bone level on the fracture resistance of root restored with post and core. Forty-eight extracted human mandibular premolars were divided into six groups. Cast posts and cores were cemented（MN8 and MP8）or resin cores were built up with fiber posts and composite resin（FN8, FP8, FN4, and FP4） . Post length was 8 mm（MN8, MP8, FN8, and FP8）or 4 mm（FN4 and FP4） . Specimens were embedded 2 mm（MN8, FN8 and FN4）or 5 mm（MP8, FP8 and FP4）below cement-enamel junction. All specimens were loaded at 45 degrees to the long axis until fracture. With normal bone model, cast post and core（MN8）showed the highest fracture resistance（2262.4 N） . However, in the resorbed bone model, there were no significant differences in fracture resistance between cast post and core and fiber post with composite resin.

Although composite resin core is used with various types of prefabricated posts, it remains unclear which kind of material is most suitable for the post. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of prefabricated posts on the stress distribution within the root by finite element analysis. Posts and cores were built up with composite resin and four types of prefabricated posts: two types of glass fiber posts (GFP1, GFP2) with low and high Young's moduli, a titanium post (TIP), and a stainless steel post (SSP). In all models, stress distribution during function was calculated. There were differences in stress concentration at the root around the end of posts. The magnitudes of stress for GFP1, GFP2, TIP, and STP were 8.7, 9.3, 11.7, and 13.9 MPa respectively. Given the results obtained, GFP1 was the most suitable material for post fabrication since this model showed a lower stress value. It would therefore mean a lower possibility of root fracture.

Designs of removable partial dentures are suggested to affect the mobility of abutment teeth and removable partial denture (RPD) during oral functions. This study aimed to examine the effect of direct retainer and major connector designs on RPD dynamics under simulated loading. Six different Kennedy class II maxillary RPDs were fabricated on a maxillary model. These dentures involved 3 different direct retainers (wrought-wire clasp, RPA clasp, and conical crown telescopic retainer) and 2 different major connectors (Co-Cr major connector and heat-cured acrylic resin with a metal strengthener). Using an experimental model with simulated periodontal ligaments and mucosa that were fabricated using silicone impression material, three-dimensional displacements of the RPDs were measured under a simulated 30-N loading with a displacement transducer type M-3. Significant effects of "direct retainer design" on bucco-palatal displacements and "major connector" on mesio-distal displacements were revealed by 2 x 3 two-way analysis of variance of abutment teeth movements (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Additionally, analysis of variance of RPD displacements revealed significant effects of "direct retainer design" on corono-apical displacements and "major connector" on mesio-distal displacements (P = 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively). Rigid direct retainers and rigid major connectors decrease the movements of both abutment tooth and RPD.

The purpose of this study was to identify crown materials and luting agents that would decrease the stress concentrated at the roots of endodontically treated teeth. To this end, natural tooth model (NT), full cast crown model (gold-silverpalladium alloy; MC), polymer-based restorative material crown model (HCC), and all-ceramic crown model (ACC) were constructed. In each model, methyl methacrylate-based resin cement (MMA) and composite cement (CC) were used as luting agents. The magnitudes of von Mises stress of the roots during function were compared. When the luting agent was changed from MMA to CC, von Mises stress in the cervical area decreased by 37.8 ％ for MC, 27.1 ％ for HCC, and 37.0 ％ for ACC. Within the limitations of this study, the combination of HCC and CC gave rise to the lowest stress concentration at the cervical area.

The present study examined the influence of different post materials and their lengths on the mechanical stress of endodontically treated incisor roots in two alveolar bone conditions. Two-dimensional photoelastic models were fabricated to simulate the endodontically treated maxillary central incisors restored with three kinds of posts materials (low Young's modulus glass fiber post, high Young's modulus glass fiber post, and prefabricated stainless steel post) and two post lengths (8 and 4 mm). Completed models were placed in a transmission polariscope and loaded with a static force of 150 N at 45° to the tooth axis. Photoelastic photographs and the magnitudes of fringe order revealed stress distribution in the root, and suggest that the glass fiber post with a low Young's modulus and long length can reduce the stress concentration both in normal and alveolar bone resorption conditions.