Flexural Property Comparison Between Splint Materials

Objectives: Dental splints are often comprised of fibers, such as polyethylene or glass, embedded in a resin matrix. They are used in a variety of applications to stabilize, support, and/or reinforce teeth or restorations. Consequently, their flexural properties are important. The objective of this study was to compare the flexural strengths and stiffness of four commercially available fiber-reinforced splints.
Methods: Four commercially available fiber-reinforced splints [n=7/group], Splint S-3mm (SFC, LLC, Connecticut, USA), Splint S-2mm (SFC), everStick® C&B (GC America, Illinois, USA) and Original Ribbond (Ribbond, Washington, USA) were used for this study. Specimens were prepared in Teflon molds, polymerized with a curing light and curing box, stored in distilled water for 24 hrs at 37°C, ground with SiC to remove flash from the edges, measured (caliper), and tested via 3-point bending at 1 mm/min with a test span of 20 mm. Flexural Strength and Modulus were calculated and compared with ANOVA/Tukey.
Results: The flexural strengths (MPa) of the four materials were 504±32, 514±68, 362±44, and 105±21 for Splint S-3mm, Splint S-2mm, everStick, and Ribbond, respectively. The Splint S materials were significantly (p<0.05) stronger than everStick, which was significantly stronger than Ribbond. The flexural moduli (GPa) of the four materials were 32.2±5.6, 17.2±3.0, 15.4±3.7, and 0.7±0.2 for Splint S-3mm, Splint S-2mm, everStick, and Ribbond, respectively. Splint S-3 mm was significantly (p<0.05) stiffer than Splint S-2mm and everStick, which were significantly stiffer than Ribbond.
Conclusions: A wide variety of flexural strengths and moduli exist among splint materials. Splint S-3mm was the strongest and stiffest splint material in combination.