EFFECT OF DOWEL LUBRICATION ON RESISTANCE TO DISLODGMENT OF DOWELS CEMENTED WITH A 4-META RESINOUS CEMENT

Dentatus stainless steel dowels were cemented 5 mm into prepared canal s of extracted human teeth with C&B Metabond cement. One half the dowe ls were lubricated before cementation to ensure easy subsequent retrie val. Significantly less tensile force was required to dislodge the lub ricated dowels (p = 0.0209). Retrievable lubricated dowels could provi de dentists the option of nonsurgical endodontic retreatment in lieu o f endodontic surgery. However, lubrication cannot be recommended for c linical use at this time because of the potential for the dowel to uns crew during normal oral function. Further studies are required to dete rmine the effects of rotational forces on the lubricated dowel, surfac e design of the dowel on retention, and chemical interaction of the lu bricant on the resinous cement. Long-term effects of the lubricant on the cement are unknown.