Comparative evaluation of the sealing ability of custom adapted fiber posts and prefabricated fiber posts

Abstract

Introduction: An intra-radicular post is often used to reinforce weakened endodontically treated teeth where the remaining tooth structure is incapable of supporting and maintaining the restoration and core material. Aim: To compare the micro-leakage of teeth restored with a custom adapted fiber post restored with composite resin and those with prefabricated fiber post in single rooted teeth. Materials and Methods: Thirty sound single rooted teeth were collected and decoronated then endodontically treated. Specimens were divided into two groups (n = 15), which were restored using Prefabricated Fiber Post Group 1 (control), and Custom Adapted Fiber Post group 2 (experimental). The posts were cemented using dual cure resin cement. The specimens were exposed to 1,500 thermal cyclic loads then immersed in 2% methylene blue dye for 48 hours. Afterwards, the specimens were sectioned longitudinally, and micro-leakage was measured using a digital microscope. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-Square test and Mann-Whitney U for post micro-leakage comparison (α = 0.05). Results and Discussion: Specimens relined using composite resin (Group 2) showed an overall greater number of micro-leakage than group 1 (control), however, the Chi-Square test showed that the differences were not statistically significant (Chi-Square =1.071, p=0.438) and the Mann-Whitney U test showed that there were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between the sealing ability between custom adapted fiber posts and prefabricated fiber posts. This gives rise to the freedom of choice for the practitioner as well as the patient in treatment planning and decision making.