Retention between a serrated steel dowel and different core materials

This in vitro study compared the retention of dowel posts using different core materials. Glass ionomer cements, composite resin, and amalgam core materials were combined with serrated dowel posts to form post and core assemblies. Individual post-core assemblies were mounted with a special jig in an Instron Universal testing machine. A tensile force was applied at a cross-head speed of 0.02 cm/min and the separation force was recorded. Glass ionomer cement core materials were weak in tension and metalized ionomers remained brittle and were not fracture resistant. Composite resin and amalgam were strong in tension and relatively fracture resistant.