title: Influence of clinical baseline findings on the survival of 2 post systems: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the influence of clinical baseline characteristics on the survival of 2 post systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients needing a post were included. Half the patients received a glass fiber-reinforced post (FRP), and the other half received metal screw posts (MSP). The posts were assigned randomly. In addition to demographic data, the following parameters were recorded: type of tooth (incisor/canine versus molar/premolar), length of the post in relation to root length (percentage), extent of coronal tooth destruction (percentage), ferrule height (in millimeters), type of restoration (fixed or removable partial denture), and presence of antagonistic contacts (yes/no). After at least 1 year (mean: 13.84 months), the patients were recalled. Statistical analysis was performed using the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate of FRPs was 93.5%. In the MSP group, the survival rate was significantly lower (75.6%; log-rank test, P = .049). Additionally, the metal posts were associated with more unfavorable complications, for example, root fracture. The type of the tooth and the degree of coronal tooth destruction influenced the survival of MSPs, whereas no influence of these variables could be seen for FRPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FRPs are superior to MSPs with respect to short-term clinical performance. Especially for MSPs, clinical survival depends on several variables.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Marc_Schmitter@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Schmitter
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Rammelsberg
authors: Olaf
authors: O
authors: Gabbert
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Ohlmann
mesh_terms: D003442:Crowns; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013499:Surface Properties; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; C009753:fiberglass