Context: Fracture of endodontically treated teeth is a grave sequela that a clinician should seriously ponder. Suitable selection of restorative materials is a requisite for long-term clinical success.
Aims: To compare the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with three different posts luted using two different cements under all ceramic crowns.
Settings and design: This in vitro study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Methods and material: Thirty endodontically treated single-rooted mandibular premolars in which post spaces were prepared and divided into three different groups. Group 1 (n = 10): zirconia post group. Group 2 (n = 10): quartz fibre post group. Group 3 (n = 10): glass fibre post group. Each group is sub-divided into two based on the luting system: resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) or dual-cure resin cement (DCRC). The fracture resistance testing was performed in a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min.
Statistical analysis used: The mean fracture resistance were analysed using independent sample Student t-test and one-way ANOVA.
Results: : Within the zirconia post group, the mean fracture resistance was higher in DCRC sub-group compared to the RMGIC sub-group and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.017). The difference in fracture resistance between three different post systems was not found to be statistically significant with respect to both the luting systems.
Conclusions: It was observed that when zirconia post is used, the mean fracture resistance was higher in dual-cure resin group compared to the resin-modified GIC group.
Keywords: Failure mode; fracture resistance; glass fibre posts; quartz fibre posts; zirconia post.