The Reinforcement of Complete Upper Dentures with Not Widely Used Fibers in Dentistry Using a New Method of Incorporation

This study aimed to investigate the effect of new fibers not widely used in dentistry and hybrid fibers as reinforcing agents on fracture resistance of complete upper dentures (CUD). Five types of fibers (not widely used and hybrid fibers) were selected. Six groups of specimens were constructed, each with six identical samples. Specifically, one group served as the control group (no reinforcement), while the remaining five were reinforced with one fiber type per group. Fiber meshes were incorporated into the CUD specimens using a modified version of an established method, ensuring proper fixation and preventing slippage during compression into the flasks. Fracture toughness was measured using a Phywe, Universal Testing Machine, adapted to simulate masticatory loads experienced in the oral cavity. Statistical evaluation was conducted using ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis) and Mann-Whitney test, while the reliability of the results was further analysed using the Wheibull method. Results showed that reinforcement of CUD with these fibers increased fracture strength, and the Weibull reliability of fiber-reinforced groups exceeded that of the control group. The study also highlighted the superiority of the Weibull method in evaluating the reinforcement effect compared to the non-parametric methods used.