Effect of different surface textures on retentive strength of tapered posts.
BACKGROUND
Tapered posts allow for the preservation of tooth substance in the fragile apical area and are advantageous in clinical situations where they conform to the root and canal configuration of endodontically treated teeth. However, their lower retention compared with passive parallel-sided or active threaded posts is a disadvantage.


OBJECTIVE
This study determined the retentive strength of tapered titanium posts with different surface textures and examined the effect of roughening dentinal walls of the prepared post space.


METHODS
Posts with four surface configurations (smooth, with and without grooves, and sandblasted, with and without grooves) were examined when cemented in extracted anterior teeth.


RESULTS
The smooth post showed the lowest retentive strength. Sandblasting the smooth post more than doubled its retentive strength. The retentive strength of both smooth and sandblasted posts could be further increased by the addition of circumferential grooves. Roughening the dentinal walls of the prepared post space increased the retentive strength of sandblasted posts with and without grooves even more.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicated that, when a tapered post is used, roughening the dentin canal wall, as well as sandblasting and grooving the post, can provide statistically significant additional resistance to dislodgment.
Nergiz
I
I
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University Hospital Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Schmage
P
P
Platzer
U
U
McMullan-Vogel
C G
CG
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003481:Cuspid; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008422:Materials Testing; D011176:Post and Core Technique; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014025:Titanium; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000473:pathology
D014025:Titanium