Effect of surface treatment on retention of glass-fiber endodontic posts

Abstract

Statement of problem: The effects of surface treatment on the retention of prefabricated fiber-reinforced epoxy resin posts are not well understood because most studies measure retention shortly after cementation, without artificial aging.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment on the retention of glass-fiber endodontic posts luted with resin cement and subjected to artificial aging.

Material and methods: Thirty-two single-rooted teeth were selected, the coronal aspect of each tooth was removed, and the remaining root received endodontic therapy. Specimens were then divided into 4 groups (n = 8). Post spaces were prepared to a depth of 10 mm by using ISO 90 rotary instruments. The tapered posts received 1 of 4 surface treatments: cleaning with alcohol (Alc), cleaning with alcohol and conditioning with ED-Primer material (Alc-ED), airborne-particle abrasion (Air), or airborne-particle abrasion and conditioning with ED-Primer material (Air-ED). All posts were luted with a composite resin luting agent (Panavia F) after conditioning the canal dentin with autopolymerizing dentin primer (ED-Primer) and without acid etching of the canal dentin. After cementation, the specimens were stored in water at 37 degrees C for 30 days and subjected to simulated aging conditions consisting of 7500 thermal cycles (5 degrees C/55 degrees C) and 300,000 mechanical loading cycles with 30 N. Retention (N) of the posts was measured with a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 2 mm/min. The data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (alpha = .05). The dislodged posts were also examined microscopically at x8 and x20 magnification to evaluate the mode of failure.

Results: The mean retentive values (N) and SDs of the test groups were as follows: Alc, 375.9 +/- 85.0; Alc-ED, 421.2 +/- 46.8; Air, 534.8 +/- 65.8; and Air-ED, 555.8 +/- 86.9. Airborne-particle-abraded posts had significantly higher retention compared with nonabraded posts (P < .001). Treating the post's surface with ED-Primer material prior to cementation had no significant effect on retention. The failure mode was purely adhesive at the resin cement-post interface for all nonabraded posts. A mixed failure mode, adhesive at the resin cement-dentin interface, at the resin cement-post interface, and cohesive in the resin cement, was observed for airborne-particle-abraded posts.

Conclusion: Treating the surface of the posts with ED-Primer material before cementation with Panavia F cement produced no significant improvement in the retention of the posts. Airborne-particle abrasion of the surface of the post significantly improved the retention.