The effect of ferrule presence and type of dowel on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with metal-ceramic crowns.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the effect of presence of a 2 mm ferrule and different type of dowels on fracture resistance of mandibular premolars.


METHODS
Fifty uniradicular mandibular premolars were divided into five groups (n = 10). Ten teeth received no treatment (group I). Samples in group II & III were decoronated 2 mm above cemento-enamel junction and received custom cast dowel-core and fiber dowel-composite core respectively, with 2 mm ferrule. Samples in group IV & V were decoronated at CEJ and were restored using cast dowels and fiber dowel-composite cores, without any ferrule. The restored teeth received metal ceramic crowns and were mechanically loaded. The specimens were subjected to a static load, until fracture, to determine the fracture resistance and fracture mode.


RESULTS
The samples with 2 mm ferrule had a higher fracture resistance than non ferrule groups. Within non ferrule groups, there were no significant differences in the fracture resistance. Specimen restored with cast dowel had more incidence of non-repairable fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of ferrule increased the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth. In case of absence of ferrule, fiber dowels had similar fracture resistance as that of cast dowels and showed increased incidence of repairable fracture.
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
Vivek
V
Aggarwal
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, SGT Dental College, Gurgaon, India.
Mamta
M
Singla
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, SGT Dental College, Gurgaon, India.
Suman
S
Yadav
Department of Prosthodontics, SGT Dental College, Gurgaon, India.
Harish
H
Yadav
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, SGT Dental College, Gurgaon, India.
Vikram
V
Sharma
Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
Saranjit Singh
SS
Bhasin
Cast dowel; Fiber dowels; Fracture mode; Fracture resistance