Carbon fiber posts may have fewer failures than metal posts

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Endodontics

Background:

• Post-endodontic restorations aim to restore tooth function and aesthetics.
• The choice of post material (metal vs. non-metal) can influence long-term outcomes.
• Limited high-quality evidence exists comparing the failure rates of different post types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the failure rates of metal versus non-metal posts in endodontically-treated teeth.
• To evaluate the prosthetic outcomes of fiber posts followed by different definitive restorations.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus) up to 2004.
• Included studies were randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials assessing post failures.
• One RCT addressed the primary objective (fiber vs. cast metal post), and another addressed a secondary objective (restorative material following fiber post).

Main Results:

• The fiber post group experienced significantly fewer failures (0/97) compared to the cast post and core system (9/98) over 4 years.
• The risk ratio for failure was 0.05 (95% CI: 0.00-0.90), with root fracture being the sole failure in the cast post group.
• The included study for the primary objective was judged to be at high risk of bias.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary findings suggest that fiber posts may offer better clinical success rates than traditional cast metal posts.
• The current evidence base, comprising limited RCTs, is insufficient to provide a definitive recommendation for post material selection.
• Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.