title: Radiopacity of Esthetic Post Materials: Evaluation with Digital Analysis Technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the radiopacity of five post materials using a digital image analysis method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve specimens from each post type (two zirconia and three fiber based) of 2 mm in thickness were obtained using a diamond blade mounted on a cutting machine, and digital radiographs were taken along with aluminum step-wedge and dentin discs under standard exposure conditions. The mean gray-values of specimens were measured using a computer graphics program. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak multicomparison test (p = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest radiopacity was observed in custom zirconia (5.842 millimeters of equivalent Al [mmAl]), and the lowest value was detected with FRC-Postec (Ivoclar Vivadent) (1.716 mmAl). Significant differences were revealed between the radiopacity values among all groups (p < 0.05), except the Zr post materials (p = 0.56).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All tested post materials had higher radiopacity than dentin. Further studies will be required to clarify optimum radiopacity properties of the post materials to provide a precise clinical observation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kaval
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guneri
mesh_terms: D003764:Dental Materials; D017266:Dental Prosthesis; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D014885:Waxes; D015019:Yttrium; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D014885:Waxes; C499362:yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia; D015019:Yttrium; C036530:inzoma; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: Radiopacity; fiber post; quartz post; zirconium dioxide