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

Abstract

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. 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 50N load at 1.2Hz frequency); six slices of each root were obtained; push-out test was performed by using a universal testing machine (500N load at 1mm/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) (α < 0.05). 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. Milled PEEK posts seem to be a good clinical option, but they require improvement of CAD-CAM technology and advances towards their adhesion. Milled posts are promising and can reduce clinical time for rehabilitation of extensively destroyed teeth.