Polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) provisional Fixed Partial Dentures (FPD) are often used for immediate loading of implants. Kevlar fiber reinforcement is due to a non-bonded adaptation to PMMA. Silane pretreatment may improve the PMMA bonding of these fibers. Objectives: In order to understand the effect of treating reinforcement fibers with silane, silane-treated, Kevlar-reinforced PMMA FPD were evaluated. Methods: Cantilever FPD (N=10) were fabricated with autopolymerizing PMMA resin from a duplicate of a master model having two tapered implants spaced 10mm apart. The FPD (5 mm high x 10 mm wide x 16 mm long cantilever extension) used two titanium provisional cylinders secured (10Ncm) to the implants. Samples having Kevlar fibers at 0.01 weight percent were pretreated with silane (3M), and laid uniformly longitudinally in the middle of the FPD and the entire width of the prosthesis. Half of the samples in each group (n=5) were fatigued using 120 N force at 100,000 Hz, 8mm from the terminal implant abutment prior to loading to fracture. An MTS machine applied compressive force (crosshead speed 0.5mm/min.) through a chisel edge to the cantilever extension 8 mm from the distal aspect of the terminal implant abutment. Results: Addition of fibers prevented the reduction in fracture load (FL) with fatigue (392 +/- 76 N with fibers vs. 302.2 +/- 22.04 N without fibers; p=0.005). Fatigued vs. control fiber specimens did not have a reduced FL (392 +/-76 N vs. 409 +/- 62 N; p=0.113). Silane fiber treatment had no effect on FL (control: 381.89 +/- 40.37 N vs. fatigued: 360.1 +/- 55.74 N). Conclusion: Addition of Kevlar fibers to PMMA implant Fixed Partial Dentures prevented fatigue reduction in facture load. Silane fiber treatment had no effect. 2003 ACP P&G Fellowship.

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