Three-Point Bending Test of Fiber Posts

Five different types of fiber posts (carbon fiber Composipost radio-opaque, quartz fiber Aestheti-Plus, carbon fiber Carbotech, glass fiber Light post, and silica fiber Snowpost) were submitted to a three-point bending test after being stored for 1 yr under three different conditions: dry storage at room temperature, storage in 37 degrees C water, and storage in bovine teeth that were endodontically treated and restored with composite resin. The posts were observed before and during the test by confocal microscopy. More voids were found within the Composipost radio-opaque than in other posts. Posts of all groups that were stored in water showed flexural strength values lower than posts that were stored dry. In all storage conditions, Carbotech posts showed higher flexural strength values than Composiposts and Snowposts, and Aestheti-Plus posts showed higher flexural strength values than Snowposts. Posts that were stored in bovine teeth showed flexural strength values similar to those of posts that were stored dry. It was concluded that fiber posts must not be in contact with oral fluids and that during the 1-yr storage in bovine teeth, they were sufficiently protected from this contact by the apical root canal filling and by the coronal composite resin filling.