Tensile stress distribution in maxillary central incisors restored with cast-made and prefabricated dental posts

Aim: To analyze and compare the tensile stress distribution in endodontically treated teeth restored with cast-made (Ni-Cr and gold) and prefabricated (titanium and glass fibre) dental posts. Methodology: Four three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of a maxillary central incisor restored with Ni-Cr cast-made (Model Ni-Cr), gold cast-made (Model GO), prefabricated titanium (Model TI) and prefabricated glass fibre (Model FP) posts were constructed. An oblique loading of 100N was applied to each three-dimensional model. Tensile stress distribution within the root dentine and at the post and surrounding structure interfaces were analysed. Results: In all the FE models studied, a higher magnitude of tensile stresses was observed on the palatal aspect of the cervical dentin as compared to the labial aspect and progressively decreases from the outer to the inner part of the root. The gold cast-made and glass fibre post models showed significantly less tensile stress concentration in the post-core component than the other experimental models. The maximum tensile stress was seen on the palatal aspect of the Ni-Cr compared to other posts. The higher magnitude interfacial tensile stress concentration was observed in a pulpless tooth restored with a Ni-Cr cast-made post, followed by titanium and gold cast-made posts, respectively. However, the minimum interfacial tensile stress was noticed in a pulpless tooth restored with a glass fibre post. Conclusion: Glass fibre posts tend to transfer tensile stress more homogenously within the tooth and at interfaces than the other types of investigated posts.