Effects of various cementation methods on the retention of prefabricated posts.

Para-Post dowels were cemented by using combinations of cement, cleansing agents, and dentinal treatments. The comparative retentive strengths were as follows: 1. Para-Post posts cemented with composite into mechanically corrugated post spaces recorded the greatest retention. 2. The retention of the posts cemented with composite into post spaces rinsed with 1 ml of 17% EDTA with a pH of 7.5 and followed immediately by 1 ml of 5.25% NaOCl was lowest. 3. The retention of the posts secured with zinc phosphate into mechanically corrugated post spaces was significantly higher than with untapped post spaces. 4. The retentive strength of the posts placed with glass-ionomer cement into post spaces, irrigated with 1 ml of 40% polyacrylic acid solution, and rinsed with distilled water was comparable to that of posts secured with zinc phosphate cement without roughened post spaces.