Fracture resistance of crowned incisors with different post systems and luting agents

This study evaluated the fracture resistance of crown-restored incisors with different post-and-core systems and luting cements. Fifty intact maxillary central incisors were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 teeth each. Group 1 was restored with fibre posts (Snowpost) luted with an adhesive composite resin cement (Panavia F). Group 2 was restored with titanium alloy posts (Parapost) luted with the resin cement, and Group 3 with titanium alloy posts and a glass-ionomer cement (Fuji I). Composite cores (Clearfil Photocore) were built up in groups 1, 2 and 3. Group 4 was restored with cast post-and-cores luted with the resin cement, and group 5 with the cast post-and-cores and the glass-ionomer-cement served as a control group. All teeth were restored with metal-ceramic crowns. After thermal stressing, the specimen was then secured in a universal testing machine. Fracture loads and modes were recorded. One-way ANOVA and a Tukey test were used to determine significant differences between the failure loads of groups. Chi-square test was conducted for evaluation of the fracture modes. The fracture loads of groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Group 1 had a significantly higher number of repairable fractures than the other four groups (P<0.001). Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that fibre posts can be recommended as an alternative to cast and prefabricated metallic posts. Composite resin cement cannot significantly improve fracture resistance of metallic post and crown-restored incisors.