An in vitro evaluation of a prototype CFRC prefabricated post developed for the restoration of pulpless teeth

Carbon fibre reinforced carbon (CFRC) in the form of a prefabricated post has recently been developed and is theoretically acceptable for consideration in an endodontic post-retained crown system. This study compared four different types of postcore system cemented into 40 extracted anterior human teeth. The test groups consisted of CFRC posts cemented with a composite resin luting agent, and used with either a cast gold alloy core (Group B) or a composite resin core (Group C). Two existing post-core techniques were used as controls for comparison with the CFRC groups. One control was a prefabricated wrought precious alloy post having a cast gold alloy core, and cemented with zinc phosphate cement (Group A). The other was a prefabricated stainless steel post with a composite resin core, and cemented with a composite resin luting agent (Group D). All specimens were restored with a gold alloy crown and tested to failure with an obliquely applied compressive load at 130 degrees in an Instron using a cross-head speed of 5 cm min-1. The results showed that post-retained crowns using a prefabricated CFRC post exhibited properties comparable with, and in some cases better than, those of existing prefabricated posts. The mode of failure of specimens restored with a CFRC post was more favourable to the remaining tooth tissue than was that of specimens restored with a metallic post.