Radiopacity of nonmetallic root canal posts.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the radiopacity of a group of nonmetallic posts.


METHODS
Four specimens were cut from 7 posts, and tooth sections were cut from extracted teeth. Radiographic images of all specimens along with an aluminum step wedge were obtained on occlusal films. Optical density readings for each specimen image were determined with a transmission densitometer. Radiopacity values were subsequently calculated as equivalents of aluminum thickness.


RESULTS
Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in radiopacity values among the posts (P < .001). One nonmetallic post that was made of zirconium had a radiopacity value significantly greater than that of enamel. Another, made of glass fibers, acrylic resin, and fillers, had a radiopacity that was greater than that of dentin but smaller than that of enamel. The remaining 3 nonmetallic posts had radiopacity values lower than dentin.


CONCLUSIONS
The 3 posts with radiopacity that was lower than dentin cannot be considered sufficiently radiopaque.
Ibrahim
Haytham
H
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
El-Mowafy
Omar
O
Brown
James W
JW
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011791:Quartz / Q000737:chemistry; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003287:Contrast Media; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D004853:Epoxy Resins; C009753:fiberglass; D013193:Stainless Steel; D011791:Quartz; D002244:Carbon; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium