Fracture resistance of tilted premolars restored with different post-core systems

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of root tilt on the fracture resistance and failure pattern of endodontically-treated premolars restored with different post-core systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety endodontically-treated premolars were mounted in acrylic blocks with 0°, 12°, and 24° axial root tilt. Teeth in each group were restored in three subgroups with cast post-core, readymade metal posts and composite cores, and fiber post and composite cores. Crowns of all teeth were prepared coinciding with the long axis of the acrylic blocks to receive all-ceramic crowns. All restored teeth were stressed to record the maximum load at failure and the associated failure pattern. The collected data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Tukey's, and Kruskal-Wallis tests at α = 0.05 on past software to detect any differences between subgroups. The root fracture was the most commonly seen mode of failure. CONCLUSIONS: Root tilting usually affects the fracture resistance of teeth restored with post-core systems. The fiber post and composite cores seemed to be the best choice to restore teeth with different root tilting possibilities.