Light transmittance of fiber posts following various surface treatments: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the light transmittance of fiber posts following application of various surface treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fiber post specimens (Snowpost red size #14) were tested (n = 7). The fiber posts were divided into five groups according to the application of surface treatments: Group 1: No surface treatment; Group 2: Etched with hydrofluoric acid (HF) + silane application; Group 3: Airborne-particle abraded with 110 μm Al2O3; Group 4: Irradiated with erbium: Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser; Group 5: Airborne-particle abraded with 110 μm Al2O3 + silane application. The light transmittance of the specimens was compared using a spectrophotometer. Statistical significance was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

One-way ANOVA revealed that surface treatment had significant effects on light transmittance of posts (P < 0.001). While laser treatment had the highest percentage of light transmittance, treatment with silane following HF application had the lowest.

CONCLUSION

Application of surface treatments might negatively affect the light transmission property of fiber posts.