Stress analyses of four prefabricated posts.

A two-dimensional photoelastic stress analysis method was applied to study the relative magnitude of stress and concentration induced by four commercially available posts for endodontically treated teeth. Three types of threaded posts; VLock, Radix Anchor, and Flexi-Post, and one nonthreaded prefabricated post, the Para-Post Plus post were tested. Stress was recorded at installation, at vertical and inclined load, and the threaded posts were compared with the nonthreaded post. At installation and on loading, stress was induced where posts were in contact with the model. Higher apical stresses were demonstrated for the Para-Post Plus post whereas the threaded posts concentrated stress where they engaged the model through threads or flanges.