Invitro Comparative Analysis of the Flexural Strength of 4 Different Commercially Available Provisional Materials Used in Fixed Partial Dentures – An Original Research

Background: Provisional Prosthesis in fixed partial dentures are subjected to Flexure under stress. Selection of appropriate material for fabrication of Provisional is of utmost importance as the Provisional prosthesis has to remain in function till definitive prosthesis is delivered. Material & Methods: Bar type specimens of four different commercially available brands for provisional restorations fabricated according to ADA specification No. 27 and immersed in artificial saliva. The specimens were fractured under 3-point loading test. Results: The flexural strength ranged between 60 to 110 Mpa. BisGMA Auto polymerizing composite resin from Dentsply Caulk shows the highest flexural strength. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the flexural strengths were material specific rather than category one. The BisGMA composite based resin shows significantly higher flexural strength over other materials.