Comparative evaluation of the effect of surface treatment of fiber-reinforced posts and prefabricated metal posts on adhesion of a resin-based luting cement: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment of fiber-reinforce post and metal post of adhesion of a resin luting cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty methyl methacrylate specimens were fabricated with a customized metal rod. The samples were segregated into six groups (F1, F2, F3, M1, M2, and M3) of 10 specimens (n = 10) each. The first three groups (F1, F2, and F3) were for fiber posts and (M1, M2, and M3) were for metal posts. The postspace preparation was done with dedicated drills supplied by the postmanufacturers to a length of 14 mm. F1 and M1 were the control groups. The posts in F2 and M2 groups were treated with airborne-particle abrasion with 70 μm Al(2)O(3) particles for 5 s at a constant distance of 20 mm, cleaned with alcohol and cemented in the postspace. The posts in the F3 and M3 groups were treated with airborne-particle abrasion followed by primer application. After cementing the posts into the postspace, the acrylic blocks were sectioned with a motor-driven jigsaw to obtain four specimens each of 3-mm thickness. These sections were then subjected to push-out tests on a universal testing machine. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the bond strength of both fiber and metal posts to resin cement after airborne-particle abrasion with Al(2)O(3) particles and airborne abrasion followed by primer application. CONCLUSION: There is an increase in the bond strength of the resin cement with the prefabricated posts after the various surface treatments.