Comparative evaluation of fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary premolars reinforced by customized glass fiber post in two different ways: An in vitro study

CONTEXT: Endodontically treated premolars are currently restored with direct bonded techniques in conservative manner enabling them to bear functional stresses homogeneously. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of placement of compactable glass fibers in reinforcing the endodontically treated teeth in a novel conservative manner. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Research laboratory, in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five extracted maxillary premolars were procured. Fifteen teeth were left untreated (Group A) and the remaining teeth were endodontically treated followed by standardized mesio-occluso-distal preparation and randomly assigned to experimental groups (n = 15) as follows: (B) no restoration, (C) restoration with composite, (D) EverStick(®) POST followed by composite, and (E) vertical glass fibers within 3 mm of the coronal root canal space and buccopalatal flaring of the coronal fibers followed by composite. After conditioning and thermocycling, specimens were loaded under a universal testing machine to evaluate fracture resistance and fracture pattern of specimens. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Obtained scores were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance test for stress analysis, post hoc Tukey's test for intergroup comparison, and Chi-square test for analysis of favorable and unfavorable fracture. RESULTS: The fracture resistance was highest to lowest as follows: Group A > E > C > D > B (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: EverStick(®)POST used in conservative manner improved fracture strength of teeth significantly.