A fabric ribbon for use in dental applications. The fabric ribbon includes a transverse set of fibers aligned generally transverse to a length of the ribbon; and a axial set of fibers, intertwined around the transverse set of fibers and aligned generally axially along the length of the ribbon, each of the axial set of fibers having a thickness greater than a thickness of each of the transverse set of fibers. The fabric ribbon may be used for a dental appliance, for example in a periodontal splint, a pontic beam, a composite restoration, or to bridge a crack in teeth.