June 9, 2026
Stronger Interim Arches: New Evidence
What makes interim full-arch restorations stronger? New peer-reviewed evidence from Bender et al.
Key Highlights (TL;DR)
- A new study in the Journal of Prosthodontics — led by John Bender, DMD, MS — adds peer-reviewed evidence on what makes interim full-arch restorations stronger.
- Researchers fabricated and bend-tested 180 standardized specimens across three materials and two conversion techniques.
- Conversion technique was a statistically significant factor in fracture strength — and Smart Denture Conversions (SDC) produced the strongest results.
- The highest fracture strength of all came from pairing SDC with OnX Tough 3D-printed resin.
A Peer-Reviewed Contribution to Full-Arch Dentistry
A new study has been published in the Journal of Prosthodontics, one of the most respected peer-reviewed journals in restorative dentistry — adding to the evidence base behind Smart Denture Conversions (SDC).
The study, "Influence of material and technique of conversion on interim prosthesis fracture," was authored by John Bender, DMD, MS, together with Jack Piermatti, DMD; Daniel Feit, DMD; and Tanpreet Minhas, BA, of Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine and Rutgers University.
Dr. Bender was a panelist in our Breaking Dentures (now on-demand) webinar, where he presented some of these findings.
What The Study Looked At
Interim prosthesis fractures are among the most common complications during the healing phase of full-arch implant cases — a real concern in immediate-load protocols. This controlled laboratory study set out to measure how material and conversion technique affect interim strength.
The team fabricated 180 standardized specimens across three materials — OnX Tough 3D-printed resin, milled PMMA, and injection-molded PMMA — using two conversion techniques: traditional denture conversion and Smart Denture Conversion. Each specimen underwent a 3-point bend test on an Instron machine to measure fracture strength.
What They Found
- Material choice significantly influenced fracture strength.
- Across 180 specimens, conversion technique significantly influenced fracture strength. The highest fracture strength measured in the study was achieved when Smart Denture Conversion was paired with OnX Tough 3D-printed resin.
In short, both the technique and the material matter — and the strongest outcome came when the two worked together.
What This Means for Clinicians
For clinicians weighing their interim protocols, the takeaway is practical: the combination of conversion technique and material has a measurable effect on how much force an interim restoration can withstand in testing. For anyone managing immediate-load cases — where interim strength through the healing phase is critical — that's worth a closer look.
If you use Smart Denture Conversion or are evaluating your interim workflow, the full article offers the detailed methodology, statistical analysis, and discussion behind these results.
