Fracture resistance of weakened roots restored with composite resin and glass fiber post

This study evaluated the fracture resistance of weakened roots restored with glass fiber posts, composite resin cores and complete metal crowns. Thirty maxillary canines were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 teeth each: teeth without weakened roots (control); teeth with partially weakened roots (PWR) and teeth with and largely weakened roots (LWR). The control group was restored with glass fiber posts and a composite resin core. Teeth in the PWR and LWR groups were flared internally to standardized dimensions in order to simulate root weakness. Thereafter, the roots were partially filled with composite resin and restored in the same way as in the control group. The specimens were exposed to 250,000 cycles in a controlled chewing simulator. All intact specimens were subjected to a static load (N) in a universal testing machine at 45 degrees to the long axis of the tooth until failure. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's test for multiple comparisons (p=0.05). There were statistically significant difference differences (p<0.01) among the groups (control group = 566.73 N; PWR = 409.64 N; and LWR = 410.91 N), with significantly higher fracture strength for the control group. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the weakened groups. The results of this study showed that thicker root dentin walls significantly increase the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.Este estudo avaliou a resistência à fratura de raízes fragilizadas restauradas com pinos de fibra de vidro, núcleos de resina composta e coroas totais metálicas. Trinta caninos superiores foram aleatoriamente divididos em 3 grupos. Dentes sem enfraquecimento (grupo controle); grupo de raízes parcialmente enfraquecidas e amplamente enfraquecidas. O grupo controle foi restaurado com pinos de fibra de vidro e núcleo em resina composta. Os dentes dos grupos de raízes parcialmente e amplamente enfraquecidas foram internamente preparadas de maneira padronizada simulando enfraquecimento. Após isto, as raízes foram parcialmente preenchidas com resina composta e restauradas como no grupo controle. Os espécimes foram expostos a 250.000 ciclos em uma máquina de ciclagem mecânica. Todos os dentes intactos foram submetidos à carga estática (N) em uma máquina de ensaio universal a 45 graus ao longo eixo do dente até a sua falha. Os resultados foram analisados através do teste ANOVA a 1 critério e teste de Dunnett para comparações múltiplas (p=0,05). A análise estatística revelou diferenças significantes (p