Influence of ultrasound, with and without water spray cooling, on removal of posts cemented with resin or glass ionomer cements: An in-vitro study

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate in vitro the ultrasonic vibration efficacy with and without water spray cooling on the reduction of the amount of force necessary to dislodge the cast posts cemented with resin cement and to compare it with those cemented with GIC Type I luting cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty samples were divided into six groups: groups 1, 2, 3, posts cemented with GIC; groups 4, 5, 6, posts cemented with resin; groups 1 and 4 (controls), no ultrasound; groups 2 and 5, ultrasound without water spray; and groups 3 and 6, ultrasound with water spray. Instron testing machine was used to dislodge the posts from the root canals and the data was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Ultrasound with water spray (group 3) among the GIC groups reduced the traction force necessary to extract posts by 53.33% whereas ultrasound without water spray (group 5) among the resin groups reduced by 59.5% compared to control. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound with water is more effective in removing posts cemented with GIC because of the ultrasonic energy being transferred to the post. Ultasonics without water is more effective in removing posts fixed with resin cement probably by the indirect action of heat production.