Fracture resistance and failure patterns of endodontically treated mandibular molars with and without glass fiber post in combination with a zirconia-ceramic crown.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a fiber post on the fracture mechanics of zirconia crowns inserted over endodontically treated teeth with different extent of coronal damage.


METHODS
Endodontically treated human molars with three types of coronal damage received fiber posts before cementation of zirconia-veneered crowns. Controls received composite resin cores without fiber posts. The specimens were loaded to failure and fractographically examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).


RESULTS
Statistical analysis revealed that specimens with fiber posts demonstrated significantly higher failure loads and favorable fracture pattern compared to the controls. At fractographic analysis, specimens with fiber posts demonstrated delamination of the veneer ceramic from intact zirconia under structure. Meanwhile, the specimens that were restored without a fiber post demonstrated micro-cracking of the composite core build-up resulting in loss of the support under the zirconia crowns which was responsible for the initiation of radial crack and catastrophic damage.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitation of this study, the insertion of fiber post improved the support under zirconia crowns which resulted in higher fracture loads and favorable failure type compared to composite core build-up.
Salameh
Ziad
Z
Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ounsi
Hani F
HF
Aboushelib
Moustafa N
MN
Sadig
Walid
W
Ferrari
Marco
M
D002484:Cementation; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003442:Crowns; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003801:Dental Veneers; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D018915:Root Canal Preparation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000628:therapy*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C009753:fiberglass; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide