Radiographic appearance of titanium alloy prefabricated posts cemented with different luting materials

Eight luting materials were compared to determine which of them obscured the radiographic image of a cemented titanium alloy prefabricated post. Eight extracted, endodontically treated, maxillary molar teeth were selected for the study. A post channel was prepared in the lingual root canal of each tooth and a titanium alloy prefabricated post was cemented with one of the selected luting materials. Preoperative, precementation, and postcementation radiographs were compared visually to determine the outline of the cemented titanium alloy post. Glass ionomer cements obscured the outline more than composite resin cements but less than zinc phosphate or polycarboxylate cements. Further study is indicated before recommendation of a luting material with titanium alloy prefabricated posts.