title: The effects of cold treatment on the physical properties of stainless steel and titanium alloy endodontic posts and instruments.
abstract: This study determined whether cold treatment at -96 degrees C affected the mechanical properties of different compositions and sizes of Flexi-Post systems, various sizes of dental reamers, and external wrenches. The experiment was divided into eight groups. The four control groups were untreated and consisted of (1) 50 stainless steel posts, (2) 40 titanium posts, (3) 50 stainless steel reamers, and (4) 10 stainless steel external wrenches. The four experimental groups were cold treated once and twice and included (1) 100 stainless steel posts, (2) 80 titanium posts, (3) 100 stainless steel reamers, and (4) 20 stainless steel external wrenches. The bending or breaking forces were tested on a universal testing machine. Stainless steel Flexi-Post dowels, stainless steel reamers, and external wrenches all showed a significant (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) increase in strength as a result of the single and double cold treatment. Titanium posts showed no strength increase following a single cold treatment, while they were weakened by a double cold treatment.
authors.affiliation: Essential Dental Laboratories, South Hackensack, N.J.
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Musikant
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Deutsch
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation; D003762:Dental Instruments; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium