The effects of surface configuration on the retentive properties of parallel-sided dowels cemented with a composite...

Factors which have effect on the retention of any dowel include the shape, length, diameter, and surface configuration of the dowel, the cementing medium, precision fitness and material, etc. The shape and surface configuration are the most important among all factors. Recent developments of the etching technique for cast metal has improved the bonding strength between base metal alloys and composite cement which offers a great opportunity for better retention of the dowel if its surface has been etched. In the past, because it has often been ignored that the bonding at the cement-dentin interface is weaker than that between the metal and cement, the true impact of surface configuration and cement thickness on the retention of dowels has never really been observed. In this study, plastic transparent rods were substituted for natural teeth to avoid anatomical variation and circular horizontal grooves were placed on the channel walls to strengthen the retention between the cement and the plastic rods. A total of 140 dowel samples were cast in Rexillium III and were divided into seven groups. The surfaces of the samples were treated differently by smoothing, sandblasting, chemical etching, electrolytic etching and serrating, and fixed into the channels of the plastic rods by cementation with composite resin. Immediately thereafter, the samples were submerged in 37 degrees C water for 7 days. Instron crosshead speed 1 mm/min was used in measuring the tensile forces required for extracting the dowels from the channels. Data were analyzed with the ANOVA method. Among the three factors known to have an effect on the retention being considered in this study, the circular horizontal groove proved to be the most influential, and surface configuration came next, while cement thickness was the least influential. Among the different surface configurations, the serrated dowels showed the best retention and were followed in order by etched and smooth or sandblasted dowels.