The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different restorative procedures on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth submitted to intracoronal bleaching. Fifty upper central incisors were distributed into 5 groups: GI - healthy teeth; GII - endodontically treated teeth sealed with Coltosol; GIII - endodontically treated teeth bleached and sealed with Coltosol; GIV - endodontically treated teeth bleached and restored with composite resin; and GV - endodontically treated teeth bleached and restored with a fiberglass post and composite resin. In the bleached specimens, a cervical seal was made prior to bleaching with 38% hydrogen peroxide. The gel was applied on the buccal surface and in the pulp chamber, and was then light-activated for 45 s. This procedure was repeated three times per session for four sessions, and each group was submitted to the restorative procedures described above. The specimens were submitted to fracture resistance testing in a universal testing machine. There were statistically significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05). The mean value found for GIII was the lowest (0.32 kN) and was significantly different from the values found for GI (0.75 kN), GII (0.67 kN), GIV (0.70 kN), and GV (0.72 kN), which were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). The restorative procedures using composite resin were found to successfully restore the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and bleached teeth.

OBJETIVO: Avaliou-se in vitro a resistência à fratura de raízes com pinos metálicos fundidos e de fibra de vidro, variando sua configuração geométrica. METODOLOGIA: Cinquenta incisivos centrais superiores tratados endodonticamente foram incluídos em resina acrílica. Dez receberam apenas preparo coronário (controle) e quarenta tiveram coroas seccionadas e raízes incluídas em resina (deixando 4 mm cervicais). Distribuiu-se os espécimes em 5 grupos: controle, pino metálico cilíndrico, metálico cônico, pino de fibra de vidro cilíndrico e cônico. Submeteram-se os corpos-de-prova a ensaio de compressão, até ocorrer a fratura. RESULTADOS: A ANOVA indicou diferença significante entre os grupos (P<.05) e no teste de Tukey-Kramer´s o controle (867±243 N) apresentou os maiores valores de resistência à fratura, sendo similar ao grupo do pino de fibra cilíndrico (711±180 N). Não houve diferença significante entre os pinos metálicos cilíndricos (435±245 N) ou cônicos (585±164 N) e os de fibra cônicos (453±112 N). Os grupos dos pinos de fibra cilíndricos (711±180 N) e pinos metálicos cônicos (585±164 N) apresentaram valores intermediários e não foram diferentes entre si. CONCLUSÃO: Pinos de fibra de vidro são uma alternativa viável ao pino metálico fundido cilíndrico e cônico. Os pinos de fibra cilíndricos aumentaram a resistência à fratura dos incisivos tratados endodonticamente.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vitro fracture resistance of roots with glass-fiber and metal dowels with different designs. METHODS: Fifty-endodontically treated maxillary central incisors were embedded in acrylic resin. Ten of them received only the coronary preparation, and the remaining forty were embedded (except for 4mm of the cervical area) after removing the clinical crowns. Specimens were divided into five groups (n=10): control (teeth with only coronary preparation), cylindrical cast dowel, conical cast dowel, cylindrical glass-fiber dowel and conical glass-fiber dowel. Specimens were subjected to an increasing compressive load (N) until fracture. RESULTS: ANOVA indicated significant difference (P<.05) among the groups, and the Tukey-Kramer´s test identified these differences. The control group (867±243 N) presented the highest values and was statistically similar to cylindrical glass-fiber dowel group (711±180 N). There is no significant difference among the metal dowel cylindrical (435±245 N) or conical (585±164 N) group and conical glass-fiber dowel (453±112 N). Cylindrical glass-fiber dowel (711±180 N) and conical cast dowel and core (585±164 N) groups had intermediate values and did not differ from each other. CONCLUSIONS: Cylindrical glass fiber dowels represent a viable alternative to the cast-metal dowel cylindrical or conical. Cylindrical glass fiber dowels also increase endodontically treated incisors' resistance to fracture.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated in vitro the influence of an eugenol-based sealer (EndoFill) on the retention of stainless steel prefabricated posts cemented with zinc phosphate and resin-based (Panavia F) cements after different periods of root canal obturation, using the pull-out test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty upper canines were decoronated and the roots were embedded in resin blocks. The specimens were distributed into 3 groups, according to the period elapsed between canal obturation and post cementation: Group I - immediately; Group II - 72 h and Group III - 4 months. The groups were subdivided according to the type of cement used for post cementation: A - zinc phosphate and B - Panavia F. Following the experimental periods, specimens were subjected to pullout test in an Instron machine with application of tensile force at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until post dislodgement. The maximum forces required for post removal were recorded (kN) and means were subjected to statistical analysis by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer test (α=0.001) RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) between the posts cemented with zinc phosphate cement (0.2112 kN) and Panavia F (0.0501 kN). However, no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found between the three post cementation periods, regardless of the cement. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the eugenol-based sealer influenced the tensile strength of the posts cemented with the resin cement, but had no influence on the time waited between root canal obturation and post space preparation/post cementation.