Biomechanical Analysis of One-Piece Post and Cores in Different Materials: Can High-Performance Polymers Be an Option?

The aim of this finite element analysis was to evaluate the stress distribution along a premolar's root dentin, its post, and post luting agent when materials with different elastic modulus are used to fabricate one-piece post-and-cores in 2 different design.Two 3D virtual models (for cylindrical and conical post designs) of a mandibular premolar restored with one-piece post-and-core restorations were obtained by using a software. A total of eight post-and-core materials (polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), polyether-ketone-ketone (PEKK), glass fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (GFR-PEEK), carbon fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (CFR-PEEK), gold-palladium alloy (Au-Pd), titanium (Ti), zirconia (Zi) and chromium-nickel (Cr-Ni)) were tested. Maxiumum 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 linguo-labial direction at an angle of 45° oblique to the longitudinal axis of the crown.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.Post material and design influenced the stress concentration in the post, post luting agent, and root dentin. The stress at 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.