Objectives: The aim was to explore the fracture behavior and marginal gap within the root canal of endodontically treated (ET) premolars restored with different fiber-reinforced post-core composites (FRCs). Further aim was to evaluate the composite curing at different depths in the canal.
Materials and methods: Eighty-seven intact upper premolars were collected and randomly divided into six groups. After endodontic procedure, standard MOD cavities were prepared and restored with their respective fiber-reinforced post-core materials: group 1: prefabricated unidirectional FRC-post + conventional composite core; group 2: prefabricated unidirectional FRC-post + short fiber composite (SFRC) core; group 3: individually formed unidirectional FRC-post + conventional composite core; group 4: randomly oriented SFRC directly layered as post and core; group 5: individually formed unidirectional FRC + randomly oriented SFRC as post and core. After restorations were completed, teeth (n = 3/group) were sectioned and then stained. Specimens were viewed under a stereo microscope and the percentage of microgaps within the root canal was calculated. Fracture load was measured using universal testing machine.
Results: SFRC application in the root canal (groups 4 and 5) showed significantly higher fracture load (876.7 N) compared to the other tested groups (512-613 N) (p < 0.05). Post/core restorations made from prefabricated FRC-post (group 1) exhibited the highest number of microgaps (35.1%) at the examined interphase in the root canal.
Conclusions: The restoration of ET premolars with the use of SFRC as post-core material displayed promising performance in matter of microgap and load-bearing capacity.
Clinical significance: Fracture resistance of ET premolar restored by bilayered composite restoration that includes both SFRC as post-core material and surface conventional resin seems to be beneficial.
Keywords: Fracture load; Microgap; Post-core material; Short fiber composite.