Abstract
Fiber-reinforced composites are new materials which have been used for a variety of dental applications, including tooth
splinting, replacement of missing teeth, treatment of dental emergencies, reinforcement of resin provisional fixed
prosthodontic restorations, orthodontic retention, and other clinical applications. Different fiber types are available, but
little clinical information has been disseminated. The traditional microscopy investigation, most commonly used to study
this material, is a destructive technique, which requires specimen sectioning and are essentially surface measurements.
On the basis of these considerations, the aim of this research is to analyze the interior of a dental sample reinforced with
fiber after a mechanical and thermal cycling to emulate oral conditions using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The
device we are using is a home built Fourier domain OCT working at 800 nm with 6 &mgr;m resolution. The results are
compared with microscopy images to validate OCT as a working method. In long term, fractures allow bacterial invasion
provoking plaque and calculus formation that can cause caries and periodontal disease. Therefore, non invasive imaging
of the bridge fiber enables the possibility of periodic clinical evaluation to ensure the patient health. Furthermore, OCT
images can provide a powerful method for quantitative analysis of crack propagation, and can potentially be used for in
vivo assessment.
