Fiber Reinforced Composites in Dentistry: A Review of Literature

Abstract

Background: The enhancement of long and short fiber resins was applied in many different areas of engineering and biomedicine. The application of fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) in dentistry was discussed and reported in the previous literature. However, there is lack of reports on the use of natural fibers in the restorative material.

Aim: The aim of this review was to revise and update the FRC and natural fibers applications in dentistry based on the reported studies and literature.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Science Direct database to identify the related articles using multiple keywords. The keywords used were natural fibers, kenaf, fiber reinforced composite, dentistry, resin matrix and fillers. The search was limited to articles that were published in English language from the year 1982 to 2022.

Conclusion: Fiber-reinforced composite material mainly derived from synthetic fiber which has been discovered to be one of the most promising restorative materials and possess superior properties among other types of composites, dominating many applications in the most clinical applications and advanced industries. However, the use of natural fibers in dental applications is still lacking.