From the Research
Fiber posts used in dentistry come in several types, including glass fiber, carbon fiber, quartz fiber, and polyethylene fiber posts, with glass fiber posts being the most commonly used due to their esthetic properties and ability to bond well with resin cements. The types of fiber posts and their treatment protocols for sensitivity or irritation, with or without saline, are crucial for successful restoration.
Key Points
- Fiber posts are manufactured from pre-stretched fibers impregnated within a resin matrix, with the fibers being of carbon, glass/silica, and quartz, and the resin bases being Epoxy and bis-GMA 1.
- Before cementation, fiber posts should be cleaned and treated to enhance bonding, with the recommended treatment involving cleaning with alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) to remove contaminants, followed by application of a silane coupling agent for 60 seconds 2.
- Saline is not typically used for fiber post treatment as it doesn't enhance bonding, and the most effective protocol is alcohol cleaning followed by silanization, which significantly improves bond strength by creating both micromechanical retention and chemical bonding between the post and cement, ultimately enhancing the longevity of the restoration.
- The use of core build-up materials as post luting cements is not recommended, and the resin cement film thickness also influences the pullout strengths of fiber-reinforced posts, with the highest bond strength values obtained when the cement layer oversized the post spaces but not larger than 0.3 mm 2.
- EverStick/E-glass fiber posts showed significantly higher fracture resistance than the other fiber posts and can be suggested for clinical use, according to a study published in 2019 3.
Treatment Protocols
- Cleaning with alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) to remove contaminants
- Application of a silane coupling agent for 60 seconds
- Drying the post and then coating with silane to create a chemical bond between the post and resin cement
- Using hydrogen peroxide (typically 24-35%) for additional surface treatment
Recommendations
- Glass fiber posts are the most commonly used due to their esthetic properties and ability to bond well with resin cements.
- The use of EverStick/E-glass fiber posts can be suggested for clinical use due to their high fracture resistance.
- The most effective protocol is alcohol cleaning followed by silanization, which significantly improves bond strength by creating both micromechanical retention and chemical bonding between the post and cement, ultimately enhancing the longevity of the restoration, as supported by the most recent study in 2019 3.