Comparación de la resistencia a la fractura de restauraciones directas reforzadas con fibra de polietileno vs fibra de vidrio en dientes endodonciados. Revisión sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: The restoration of endodontically treated teeth requires optimizing their fracture resistance, and glass and polyethylene fibers represent viable direct reinforcement alternatives. However, comparative evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. Objective: To compare the fracture resistance of direct restorations reinforced with glass fiber versus polyethylene fiber in endodontically treated teeth. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020. Studies were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by a manual search using MeSH descriptors and keywords related to endodontically treated teeth, fracture resistance, and fiber reinforcement. In vitro and clinical studies that evaluated direct restorations reinforced with both fibers were included. Results: Of 380 records, 10 studies were included; only two directly compared polyethylene fiber and glass fiber, showing minimal and non-significant differences. However, polyethylene showed a tendency to favor more reparable fractures, which could have important clinical implications for the preservation of dental structure. Conclusions: Both materials increase fracture resistance, although the scientific literature remains fragmented, underscoring the need for standardized clinical trials to consolidate evidence-based restorative recommendations. Keywords: endodontically treated teeth, fracture resistance, fiber reinforcement, polyethylene fiber, direct composite restoration.