Evaluation of mechanical properties of different polyetheretherketone endodontic post systems: an in vitro study

Abstract

Abstract Background Survival of endodontically treated teeth depends on an efficient restoration of the missing tooth structure. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of different endodontic post systems. Materials and methods Human permanent maxillary central incisors (no.=58) were decoronated and root-filled. The specimens with prepared root canals were randomly divided into Group P: Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) post and composite core and Group C: custom-made post-core of PEEK. The cementation of the posts was carried out using self-adhesive resin cement. Nano-hybrid composite resin was used for core fabrication. After cementation, the specimens from each group were randomly divided into two subgroups according to the types of tests utilized: 14 from each group were for the fracture strength test, which was restored with IPS e-max CAD crown, and 15 from each group for the pullout resistance test. A universal testing machine was used for the test performance. Results The fracture resistance test showed that the values significantly differed among tested posts (P = 0.013). Group P showed the highest fracture resistance. Group C exhibited higher mean pullout resistance values than the other group (P) (P = 0.059). In the two-piece PEEK post and composite core, the predominant type of failure was a core fracture, while in the one-piece PEEK post-core, most types of failures were either in the crown or in the post. Conclusions The prefabricated posts are more resistant to fracture than the custom-made posts, with fracture and displacement mainly of the core. In contrast, both showed similar pullout resistance.

Keywords

• Peek
• E-max ceramic
• Mechanical properties
• Debonding
• Fracture strength