Spyridon Condos

Four different core materials measured for fracture strength in combination with five different designs of endodontic posts

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the fractural load of four core materials supported by five post designs. This study was divided into 20 groups with 10 samples per group. Specimens were placed in a special jig at a 45-degree angle, and the fracture load values, in pounds, were obtained with the use of a universal testing machine. A 5 x 4 factorial design was used to assess and compare the fractural strength, and a two-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether the buccolingual, mesiodistal, and height dimensions differed across groupings. Mean fracture load values were obtained. Flexi-Post dowel/Ti-Core material at 277.1 pounds and ParaPost dowel/ Tytin silver amalgam at 277.3 pounds recorded the greatest mean values. These values were not statistically different. ParaPost dowel/Ketac-Silver material had the lowest mean value (49.6 pounds). For all posts Tytin silver amalgam and Ti-Core material were significantly stronger than Ketac-Silver and G-C Miracle Mix material. Ketac-Silver and G-C Miracle Mix materials did not differ from each other. Results indicated that Ti-Core composite material is at least as strong as Tytin silver amalgam.

Comparison of the torsional forces at failure for seven endodontic post systems.

Resistance to torsional forces is critical in restoration of endodontically treated teeth. Seven post designs (Flexi-Post, Flexi-Flange, Para-Post, AccessPost, World Post, Vlock, and Dentatus posts) were cemented in roots of natural teeth with zinc phosphate and Flexi-Flow cements, which resulted in 11 different groupings that were subjected to torsional forces in a clockwise direction. In addition, clockwise and counterclockwise torque was applied to the Flexi-Post and Flexi-Flange systems cemented with zinc phosphate and Flexi-Flow cements. A total of 150 samples were prepared, and groups for this study were: group 1, Flexi-Post/zinc phosphate clockwise and counterclockwise; group 2, Flexi-Post/Flexi-Flow clockwise and counterclockwise; group 3, Flexi-Flange/zinc phosphate clockwise and counterclockwise; group 4, Flexi-Flange/Flexi-Flow clockwise and counterclockwise; group 5, Para-Post/zinc phosphate clockwise; group 6, AccessPost/zinc phosphate clockwise; group 7, AccessPost/Flexi-Flow with grooved dentin clockwise; group 8, World Post/zinc phosphate clockwise; group 9, World Post/Flexi-Flow with grooved dentin clockwise; group 10, Vlock Post/zinc phosphate clockwise; and group 11, Dentatus post/zinc phosphate clockwise. Torsional forces for the groups ranged from 17 ounce-inches (Dentatus/zinc phosphate) to 81 ounce-inches (Flexi-Post/zinc phosphate). Flexi-Post and Flexi-Flange threaded posts exhibited statistically greater resistance to torsional forces. Analyses were computed with one-way and three-way analysis of variance followed by Duncans multiple range test. Duncans multiple range test indicated that Flexi-Post/zinc phosphate/clockwise was similar to Flexi-Post/Flexi-Flow/clockwise and that both had significantly higher torque levels than the other treatment conditions in the clockwise direction (p 0.0001). Dentatus/zinc phosphate/clockwise had significantly lower torque levels than the other treatment conditions (p 0.031).

Comparative study of two precision overdenture attachment designs

In this study two precision overdenture attachment designs were tested for retention--a nylon overdenture cap system and a new cap and keeper system. The new cap and keeper system was designed to reduce the time involved in replacing a cap worn by the conditions of the oral environment. Six groups were tested at two different angles and retentive failure was examined at two different angles (26 and 0 degrees). Failure was measured in pounds with a force gauge over a 2000 pull cycle. The amount of force required to remove caps for two overdenture caps and a replaced cap for the metal keeper system was determined. Two dependent variables were absolute force and relative force. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) was used to compare the between-subjects effects of cap and angle, and the within-subjects effect of pull. The results indicated a significant difference between cap types (p < 0.0001) with respect to the relative force required to remove the cap. There was no effect of angle. For absolute force, RMANOVA revealed a highly significant interaction between pull and cap (p < 0.0001). Thus, the way that force changed over pulls depended on which cap was used (no effect of angle). For relative force, RMANOVA revealed no interaction between pull and cap, but there was a main effect of cap type (p < 0.0001) (no effect of angle). The nylon cap design required less force for removal but showed more consistency in the force required over the course of the 2000 pulls when compared with the keeper with cap insert. The results obtained in this study were consistent with similar studies in literature.

Retentive properties of a split-shaft threaded post: Cut at different apical lengths

The retention of the post to the root of an endodontically treated tooth is critical for a successful restoration. Modification of the post length to accommodate a specific clinical situation is common. This study compared the retention of No. 1 and No. 2 Flexi-Post restorations shortened apically from 1 to 5 mm with that reported for full-length control No. 1 and No. 2 Flexi-Post dowels. The experimental material was divided into 10 groups with 10 samples in each group. Retentive values were recorded in pounds with a universal testing machine. Analysis of variance with a Tukey-Student range, multiple-comparison test showed no statistical differences from apical reductions of 1, 2, 3, and 5 mm including the full-length control Flexi-Post No. 1 system. With 4 mm of apical shortening statistically greater retention was recorded. No statistical differences resulted with apical reductions of 1 to 4 mm or with the full-length control Flexi-Post No. 2 system, but 5 mm of apical shortening caused significantly less retention.

Comparison of the shear bond strength of a titanium composite resin material with dentinal bonding agents versus glass ionomer cements

This study compared the in vitro shear bond strength of an autopolymerizing composite resin system (CR) (Ti-Core) with two third-generation dentinal bonding agents (DBA) (Tenure and Scotchbond 2) to glass ionomer cements (GIC) (Ketac-Silver, GC Miracle Mix, and Ketac-Cem). The experiment was divided in five groups. The shear bond strengths were evaluated on a universal testing apparatus at three different intervals; 15 minutes, 24 hours, and 7 days. Statistically, (two-way analysis of variance), the shear bond strengths from the greatest to least were: Ti-Core CR with Tenure DBA > Ti-Core CR with Scotchbond 2 DBA > Ketac-Silver GIC, GC Miracle Mix GIC > Ketac-Cem GIC. There were no differences in shear bond strengths according to time, and no interactions between groups and time. The shear bond strengths for Tenure DBA with Ti-Core CR were two and a half to three times greater than the silver-filled glass ionomers, Ketac-Silver GIC and GC Miracle Mix GIC. Tenure DBA with Ti-Core CR also had consistently greater shear bond strengths than Scotchbond 2 DBA with Ti-Core CR, and this trend is in agreement with similar research.

Retentive properties of a threaded split post with attachment sleeves cemented with various luting agents

This study determined the retention, in pounds, of Nos. 1 through 3 stainless steel attachment sleeves for the threaded split post system cemented with various cements. Post heads and matching sleeves were also sandblasted and compared with attachments not sandblasted. Four luting agents were selected, zinc oxyphosphate cement (ZOP), and three brands of composite resin cement (CRC). The experiment was divided into two parts; in part 1, samples were not treated, and in part 2, samples were sandblasted. Retentive values were recorded with a universal testing machine. A 2 x 3 x 4 factorial three-way analysis of variance was used to compute the effects sandblasting, sleeve and post type, and the luting agent. No statistical differences were recorded for sleeves not sandblasted, Nos. 1 and 2, regardless of the luting agent. The nonsandblasted No. 3 sleeve cemented with Panavia CRC had significantly greater retention than All-Bond CRC or ZOP. There were no statistical differences in retention of sandblasted sleeves for the No. 1 sleeve despite the type of luting agent. For sandblasted sleeves Nos. 2 and 3, ZOP and Panavia CRC recorded significantly greater retention than All-Bond CRC. However, there was no difference between sandblasting and not sandblasting for the No. 1 sleeve. Mean loads for Nos. 2 and 3 sleeves were substantially greater for sandblasted compared with attachments not sandblasted.

Comparison of the retentive properties of a sleeve cast crown/core system with crowns cemented to conventional cast cores

The retention of the crown to the core substructure is of great importance for a successful restoration. The aim of this study was to compare the retentive values of the Flexi-Cast post and its sleeve crown/core complex with that of a crown cemented to a conventional cast post. Forty single-rooted teeth divided equally into four groups were used. Flexi-Cast crown and cores were cemented to Flexi-Cast posts in groups 1 through 3. Group 4, the control group, comprised crowns cemented to conventional cast cores. Groups 1 through 4 had retentive values of 126.2, 135.5, 185.0, and 79.3 lb, respectively. Statistically, the increase in retention for all sizes of the Flexi-Cast crown and cores when compared with the control cast post and crown was found to be significant (p less than or equal to 0.0001).