Load capability of excessively flared teeth restored with fiber-reinforced composite posts and all-ceramic crowns

This investigation evaluated the stabilizing effect of glass fiber reinforced posts (FRP) luted with self-adhesive universal cement on the fracture resistance of excessively flared endodontically treated teeth (ETT). Values were compared to teeth with no ferrule, 2 mm ferrule and resin cement for luting with 2 mm ferrule. Thirty-two caries-free maxillary central incisors were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=8) and endodontically treated. Two groups were flattened 2 mm above and 2 groups at the cemen-to-enamel junction (CEJ). The teeth received FRPs as follows: 1) post was cemented with self-adhesive cement (RelyX Unicem, 3M ESPE) (U), no ferrule (F) was prepared, root canal entrance was excessively flared with a remaining wall thickness of 0.5 - 0.75 mm (UNF/flared); 2) post was cemented with U, no F was prepared; 3) post was luted with U, F was prepared; 4) post was cemented with a resin cement (Panavia F, Kuraray, Japan), F was prepared. All specimens were built-up using a resin composite (Clearfil Core, Kuraray). All-ceramic crowns were adhesively luted (U). Specimens were exposed to thermo-mechanical loading and statically loaded until failure. The mean fracture load values [N](SD) were: UNF/flared=68 (126); UNF=315 (136); UF=488 (72); PF=860 (190). All groups exhibited statistically significant differences regarding maximum fracture load (p<0.05).