Biomechanical Analysis of One-Piece Postand- Core: High-Performance Polymers vs Conventional Materials.

Purpose: To evaluate the stress distribution along a premolar's root dentin, its post, and its post-luting agent when materials with different elastic moduli are used to fabricate one-piece post-and-cores in two different designs.

Materials and methods: Two 3D virtual models (for cylindrical and conical post designs) of a mandibular premolar restored with one-piece post-and-core restorations were obtained using a software. A total of eight post-and-core materials were tested: polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), glass fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (GFR-PEEK), carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK), gold-palladium alloy (Au-Pd), titanium (Ti), zirconia (Zi), and chromium-nickel (Cr-Ni). Maximum principals stress (MPS) in the post, post-luting agent, and root dentin were determined. A load of 150 N was applied to the buccal cusp in the linguo-labial direction at an angle of 45 degrees oblique to the longitudinal axis of the crown.

Results: The highest MPS value in post structure was observed with Cr-Ni material for both post designs. Similarly, the highest MPS value in the post-luting agent was observed for Cr-Ni, the material with the highest elastic modulus. However, in the root dentin, the highest value was observed in PEEK, the material with the lowest elastic modulus.

Conclusions: Post material and design influenced the stress concentration in the post, post-luting agent, and root dentin. The stress at the root dentin was slightly higher for polymeric materials. Cylindrical post design revealed lower stresses than conical post design at root dentin for all post-and-core materials tested.