Fracture Resistance of Reattached Hydrated Fragment of Fractured Incisors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fragment reattachment procedure provides conservative treatment option when an intact fractured fragment is available. Rewetting of fractured fragment before reattaching has shown better bond strength of attached fragment. Therefore, fracture resistance of reattached fractured fragment with hydration and without hydration was evaluated and compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ellis class II fracture was induced in selected and coded 60 extracted maxillary central incisors using a custom-made-wise and assigned into group I and group II (without hydration and with hydration) and both the groups were further divided into two groups (1 week and 3 months). In group I, fractured fragments were reattached after bench-drying for 24 hours. In group II, fractured fragments were reattached after hydrating for 1 hour following bench-drying for 24 hours. Composite (Filtek Z350 XT, Universal Restorative, 3M ESPE) was used to reattach the fractured fragments. Reattached fractured fragments were stored in artificial saliva for 1 week and 3 months and subjected to fracture resistance test using Universal Testing Machine. The data obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Fracture resistance in hydration samples was higher than without hydration at the end of 1 week and 3 months statistically. Fracture resistance of fractured fragment at the end of 3 months was higher in both with hydration and without hydration but was not significant with hydration. CONCLUSION: Hydration of fractured fragment before reattachment procedure has shown better fracture resistance and improved further after storing in artificial saliva for 3 months. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Suresh M, Mallikarjun SB, Babu G, et al. Fracture Resistance of Reattached Hydrated Fragment of Fractured Incisors. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):476–480.