Three-point bending test of fiber posts

Five different types of fiber posts (carbon fiber Composipost radio-opaque, quartz fiber Aestheti-Plus, carbon fiber Carbotech, glass fiber Light post , and silica fiber Snowpost) were submitted to a three-point bending test a fter being stored for 1 yr under three different conditions: dry storage at room temperature, storage in 37 degreesC water, and storage in bovine teet h that were endodontically treated and restored with composite resin. The p osts were observed before and during the test by confocal microscopy. More voids were found within the Composipost radio-opaque than in other posts. P osts of all groups that were stored in water showed flexural strength value s lower than posts that were stored dry. In all storage conditions, Carbote ch posts showed higher flexural strength values than Composiposts and Snowp osts, and Aestheti-Plus posts showed higher flexural strength values than S nowposts. Posts that were stored in bovine teeth showed flexural strength v alues similar to those of posts that were stored dry. It was concluded that fiber posts must not be in contact with oral fluids and that during the 1- yr storage in bovine teeth, they were sufficiently protected from this cont act by the apical root canal filling and by the coronal composite resin fil ling.