PEEK and fiberglass intra-radicular posts: influence of resin cement and mechanical cycling on push-out bond strength

Objectives To evaluate the bond strength of four types of posts (pre-fabricated fiberglass post, fiberglass post anatomized with composite resin, milled fiberglass post, and milled polyetheretherketone (PEEK) post), and two types of resin cements (conventional and self-adhesive) by assessing immediate bond strength and post-mechanical aging at each root third. Materials and methods Bovine endodontically treated roots (16 groups, n = 8) were prepared and the posts were produced and luted; the specimens of aging groups were cycled (300,000 cycles under 50 N load at 1.2 Hz frequency); six slices of each root were obtained; push-out test was performed by using a universal testing machine (500 N load at 1 mm/min cross speed); fracture pattern was classified into five levels. The statistical analyses used were three-way ANOVA, Tukey's test (for bond strength), and Fisher's test (for fracture pattern) (alpha < 0.05). Results Differences were found between the cements for posts (conventional: p < 0.001; self-adhesive: p = 0.002), whereas no difference was found for root region (p = 0.941; p = 0.056, respectively); analysis of each root showed significant differences for cements (p < 0.001), posts (p < 0.001), and mechanical cycling (p = 0.001); in terms of double interaction, differences were found for posts and mechanical cycling (p = 0.005); no other interactions were observed (double or triple); the fracture pattern showed difference between the groups for both cements. Conclusions Milled PEEK posts seem to be a good clinical option, but they require improvement of CAD-CAM technology and advances towards their adhesion. Clinical relevance Milled posts are promising and can reduce clinical time for rehabilitation of extensively destroyed teeth.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of different types of posts and resin cements. Results showed that milled PEEK posts could be a good clinical option for rehabilitation of extensively destroyed teeth. This could reduce clinical time for treatment.