A comparative evaluation of the fracture resistance of three different pre-fabricated posts in endodontically treated teeth: An in vitro study

AIMS: To compare the fracture resistance and primary mode of failure of three different pre- fabricated posts like stainless steel, carbon fiber and ceramic posts in endodontically treated crowned permanent maxillary central incisors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Root canal treatment was performed on all 30 maxillary central incisors. Post space was prepared and samples were divided into three groups of 10 each. The teeth were inserted with pre-fabricated stainless steel, carbon fiber and ceramic post and cemented using adhesive resins, core fabricated and crowns placed. Mode of failure was carried out by immersing the teeth in black ink for 12 h and then sectioning them mesio-distally. Fracture above the embedded resin was considered favorable and fracture below the resin level was considered unfavorable. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Fracture strength was measured using a universal testing machine. Data were evaluated statistically using the Kruskal Wallis test and the Mann Whitney “U”-test. Mode of failure was evaluated statistically using the chi-square test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference showing that the stainless steel post had a better fracture resistance when compared with the other two posts and the carbon fiber showed a statistically more favorable fracture when compared with the other two posts. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the pre-fabricated stainless steel post exhibited a significantly higher fracture resistance at failure when compared with the carbon fiber post and the ceramic post. The mode of failure of the carbon fiber post was more favorable to the remaining tooth structure when compared with the pre-fabricated stainless steel post and the ceramic post.