Effect of the surface treatment of plain carbon fiber posts on the retention of the composite core: an in vitro evaluation

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the role of surface treatments performed on plain carbon fiber posts, in relation to serrated carbon fiber posts, in the retention of the composite core. Fifty carbon fiber posts received surface treatments in order to verify their influence on the retention of the core material. An acrylic resin mold was developed in order to precisely fit the post, leaving a machined space to accommodate a self-curing composite resin. After the surface treatment, a primer was applied on the coronal portion of all posts, which were then dried. They were fitted to the mold and received a 3 mm composite core. All specimens were thermocycled and then stored in distilled water for a week. Tension test was performed at a speed of 0.5 mm/min until there was lack of adhesion or fracture of the core. The conclusions were: a) the values of retention related to aluminum oxide spray (group A), depth cutter diamond burs (group C) and posts with machined coronal portion (group D) were comparable to those of serrated posts (group E), although no statistically significant difference between these groups was found; b) the mean values of core retention in group B (medium grit diamond burs) were statistically lower than those of other groups.