A comparative study of fracture resistance between morphologic dowel and cores and a resin-reinforced dowel system in the intraradicular restoration of structurally compromised roots.

The intraradicular reinforcement of structurally compromised roots has been advocated for endodontically treated teeth with thin remaining walls. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the validity of intraradicular reinforcement. After the crowns were removed, forty structurally weakened central incisors were divided into two main groups for morphologic dowel rehabilitation or resin reinforcement and dowel rehabilitation. Within both these groupings, half the specimens were ferruled to assess the effects of a ferrule on fracture resistance. All dowels were cemented with resin cements. The resistance to a simulated masticatory load of a resin-reinforced post and core system was significantly greater than that of a morphologic post and core procedure. When a bonded resin reinforcement and dowel cementation was used on structurally weakened roots, there was no statistically significant difference between post and core restorations that used a ferrule and those without a ferrule.