Retention and shear bond strength of two post systems.

The purpose of this study was to compare the retention and shear strength of teeth restored with the Para Plus post (P) and the C post (C1 and C2) systems. Twenty-four P, C1, and C2 posts each were placed 7 mm into recently extracted and endodontically treated maxillary anterior roots and luted with Ketac-Cem and Bis-Core respectively. In addition, 13 samples of each post type had a Bis-Core composite core placed. The tensile retention strength of the post and the shear strength of the post and core restorations when the core was loaded buccolingually at 45 degrees to the roots' long axis were determined at a strain rate of 1.3 mm/min. The C2 posts required significantly more tensile force (P < 0.0001) to remove them than the P or C1 posts. The shear strength of the post/core restorations was not significantly different (P < 0.04). The C1 restorations had 12 root fractures, the C2 restorations had 11 root fractures, and the P samples had six root fractures. It was concluded that the lack of stiffness of the C posts adversely affected the success of these restorations.