Light transmittance of fiber posts following various surface treatments: A preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the light transmittance of fiber posts following application of various surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fiber post specimens (Snowpost red size #14) were tested (n = 7). The fiber posts were divided into five groups according to the application of surface treatments: Group 1: No surface treatment; Group 2: Etched with hydrofluoric acid (HF) + silane application; Group 3: Airborne-particle abraded with 110 μm Al(2)O(3); Group 4: Irradiated with erbium: Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser; Group 5: Airborne-particle abraded with 110 μm Al(2)O(3) + silane application. The light transmittance of the specimens was compared using a spectrophotometer. Statistical significance was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α = 0.05). RESULTS: One-way ANOVA revealed that surface treatment had significant effects on light transmittance of posts (P < 0.001). While laser treatment had the highest percentage of light transmittance, treatment with silane following HF application had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Application of surface treatments might negatively affect the light transmission property of fiber posts.