Fiber Reinforcement of Implant Prosthetics
Fast, simple, proven techniques provide implant technicians peace of mind
Prosthesis fracture is an unnecessary risk when providing a patient with an interim or provisional implant-supported prosthesis. The provisional restoration is important because it helps the dental team evaluate comfort, function, and esthetics in order to design the final restoration. Further, prosthesis fractures also may lead to a loss of patient faith in the restorative prosthetic team.
James Angelone, owner of Ohio’s Professional Dental Lab in North Royalton, Ohio, has been reinforcing his implant prostheses with PREAT's eFiber over the past 2 years and says, “They just don’t break. It’s nice not to worry about a patient inhaling a quadrant.”
Translucent eFiber is unique because it is impregnated with both PMMA (acrylic) and bis-GMA (composite). This material composition gives the dental team the choice of utilizing either acrylic or composite resins and denture teeth because eFiber reinforcement chemically and mechanically bonds through an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN).
eFiber may be ground and polished just like acrylic, eliminating fraying fibers characterized by previous-generation reinforcement materials, which annoy patients. The ability to manipulate the fiber also saves time and adds strength during full-arch implant-retained conversions.
Angelone touts eFiber as “a stronger and more esthetic option in the anterior, because most breaks happen between teeth Nos. 8 and 9. This is especially important during weeks 4 through 6 when the prosthesis has to stay in, even if it breaks. No matter what, it doesn’t come out.”
The placement of fiber is key to maximizing prosthesis strength. eFiber placed perpendicular to fracture forces in the optimal position—the juncture of denture tooth and acrylic—stops fractures before they begin. eFiber provides over 1400 MPa of flexural strength and more than 100,000 biting cycles in fatigue testing to provide the strength to stop the crack before it begins.
eFiber may be used to easily and quickly reinforce traditional dentures, implant overdentures, and provisional and definitive fixed hybrids by bonding eFiber directly to the denture teeth.
• After boil out, chemically activate the denture teeth by painting a thin coat of monomer or bonding agent on the tooth. Angelone wipes Vitacoll primer on the tooth with a cotton swab “until the tooth squeaks,” he says. “A clean tooth provides a great bond with eFiber.”
• Start with the most posterior tooth and adapt eFiber to the ridgelap of the tooth surface (keep in “round” or flattened form)
• Use the stepper tool to block out the adjacent (unadapted) fiber while light-cure the adapted fiber to the tooth with a handheld light.
• Continue around the arch, adapting eFiber to each tooth, block out, and light curing into place. This should only take about 90 seconds.
After the eFiber has been bonded to the ridgelap of the denture teeth, normal denture processing techniques are utilized—inject, pack, or pour—for final processing.
After wearing the fixed detachable provisional for 8 weeks, the patient can provide helpful feedback regarding the esthetics, comfort, and function of the prosthesis. Any necessary adjustments to occlusion, lip support, incisal edge position, and speech are made at this time. Ultimately, a well-designed provisional will serve as a template for the laboratory technicians as they begin to fabricate the final prosthesis.
Reinforcing provisional implant prosthetics with eFiber has allowed Angelone to warranty his work. “They just don’t break, and I warranty them. My dentists love it that we have no fractures or repairs.” eFiber eliminates non-revenue chairside time, provides peace of mind for the dental team, and provides the patient with the best restoration possible in only 10 minutes of bench time with no additional equipment necessary.
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions contained in the preceding material are not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dental Technology.
For more information, contact:
PREAT Corporation
800-232-7732 • preat.com
