Influence of endodontic posts on the fracture behavior of crowned premolars with Class II cavities

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of different posts and types of cementation on the fracture load and fracture mode of crowned, endodontically treated premolars with class II cavities in an ex vivo setting. METHODS: Forty-eight single-rooted human premolars were endodontically treated and prepared with standardized MO (mesio-occlusal) cavities and a circular chamfer preparation. Eight teeth each received either no posts or were restored with screws (BKS), glass fiber posts (DentinPost), or quartz fiber posts (DT Light SL). Sixteen teeth were restored with zirconium dioxide posts (CeraPost). BKS-screws and eight zirconium dioxide posts were cemented conventionally with glass ionomer cement; Panavia F was used for all others. The specimens were restored with composite cores and crowns cast from a non-precious metal. Eight sound premolars served as the controls. After thermomechanical fatigue testing, the samples were loaded until fracture occurred at an angle of 45 degrees. All specimens were evaluated for fracture lines. RESULTS: The sound teeth showed the significant highest fracture load (792.50+/-210.01 N). Conventionally cemented zirconium dioxide posts showed the lowest fracture load (327.00+/-45.84 N); the highest fracture load occurred with quartz fiber posts (421.75+/-90.19 N). Only the difference between these two groups was statistically significant. With glass fiber posts and conventionally cemented zirconia posts, restored teeth failed mostly in an "unfavourable" mode. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the fracture load, there was no statistical difference between the restoration of non-vital premolars with class II cavities with crowns and posts or crowns alone.