The purpose of this study was to test the difference between the strength of the marginal ridge of extracted teeth with a Class I composite resin restoration and the strength of the marginal ridge of teeth with a Class II amalgam restoration with retention grooves. A statistically significant difference in fracture strengths was found among groups. No statistically significant difference was found among restored preparations, beveling technique, and restorative material. Statistically significant differences in fracture strength were found between the whole tooth group and treatment groups; between the whole tooth group and Class II amalgam restoration group; and between the unrestored tooth preparation group and all other tooth groups.