Adhesive restoration of anterior endodontically treated teeth: influence of post length on fracture strength.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated anterior teeth restored with crowns made of composite or ceramic and retained without the use of a post (endocrowns) or with posts of 5 mm (short) and 10 mm in length (long).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-eight intact maxillary incisors were selected for the study. After endodontic treatment, the crowns were sectioned 2 mm coronally to the cementoenamel junction provided with a ferrule of 2 mm. The roots were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8) according to the post length and type of coronary restoration. The crowns were fabricated with the chairside economical restoration of esthetic ceramics system. Group 1 was restored with a 10-mm glass fiber post, composite core, and a full-coverage ceramic crown (LPCer); group 2, with a 5-mm glass fiber post, composite core, and a full-coverage ceramic crown (SPCer); group 3, with a 10-mm glass fiber post, composite core, and a full-coverage composite crown (LPCpr); group 4, with a 5-mm glass fiber post, composite core, and a full-coverage composite crown (SPCpr); and groups 5 (EndoCer) and 6 (EndoCpr) were restored with ceramic and composite endocrowns, respectively. The teeth were then thermomechanically loaded in a chewing machine. After fatigue, the specimens were loaded to fracture. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and chi-square test. Mode of failure was defined as repairable or non-repairable.

RESULTS

Presence of post, post length, and crown material had no significant effect on the fracture resistance. Groups restored with endocrowns presented a higher number of repairable fractures in respect to the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of a post had no effect on the restorations' fracture strength.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Although this in vitro study has some limitations in respect to its clinical relevance, the restoration of largely destroyed anterior teeth with the use of an endocrown or a short glass fiber post might have advantages over a large glass fiber post.