The load-bearing capacity and fracture pattern of direct inlay-retained FRC FDPs with two different cross-sectional designs of the ponticwere tested. The aim of the study was to evaluate a new fibre disposition. Two types of composites, Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative and Filtek Z250 (3M/ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA), and one braided polyethylene fibre, Construct (Kerr, USA) were used. The results of the study suggested that the new tested disposition of the fibres prevented in some extend the delamination of the composite on buccal and facial sides of the pontic and increased the load-bearing capacity of the bridges.

This paper is part of a larger study that aims to evaluate the biomechanical behaviour of mandibular bone and periodontal splinting systems subjected to different occlusal forces by means of electric resistive tensometry (ERT). The research was based on the following premise: the degree of bone resorption and periodontal type of splint influence the deformation of the mandibular bone. The study was conducted in two stages: first, the validation of the mandibular dental arch model, which is the subject of the present article, and second, the evaluation of mandibular bone strain in case of different types of bone loss and periodontal splints, which is the subject of a second article.

This paper is the second part of a study regarding the biomechanical behaviour of mandibular bone in the context of different periodontal splinting systems, occlusal forces and load distributions. Electric resistive tensometry method was used to measure the strains developed in mandibular bone replica. The tests were carried out on six mandibular acrylic models, each with 8 natural teeth. The experimental groups were defined corresponding to the bone condition and splint type: normal height bone; bone resorption without splint; bone resorption and wire-composite splint; bone resorption and polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite splint. Each sample was subjected to three similar loading cycles, the force being applied successively on four incisors, two central incisors and canines, and the specific deformation values were read for four loading forces: 30 N, 50 N, 100 N and 150 N. In case of bone loss, the bone deformations are up to 110%. Periodontal splinting redistribute forces, reducing incisors bone strains associated with a slight increase in canine bone strains.