Clinical performance of fiber post restorations in endodontically treated teeth: 2-year results.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the 2-year outcome of post-and-core restorative procedures in endodontically treated teeth. The effect of baseline factors (tooth type, number of residual coronal walls, and type of definitive restoration) on restoration failure was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The consecutive sample design included 150 patients. A total of 162 teeth (57 anterior and 105 posterior) were restored. Sixty-nine teeth had 3 or 4 residual coronal walls, while 93 teeth had 2 or fewer walls. Crowns and direct resin composite restorations were placed in 121 and 41 teeth, respectively. After 23 to 25 months, all patients were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to identify the joint effect of variables recorded at baseline (P < .05). RESULTS: The only failure modes observed were post debonding (4.3%, 2 in anterior teeth and 5 in posterior teeth) and endodontic failure (3.0%, 2 in anterior teeth and 3 in posterior teeth). All post debondings occurred in teeth with 2 or fewer coronal walls that were crown covered. All endodontic failures occurred in crown-covered teeth (1 failure in a tooth with 3 walls and the remaining 4 failures in teeth with 2 or fewer walls). Logistic regression found no statistical significance for any of the variables recorded at baseline. CONCLUSION: Restorations placed with the use of a fiber post and core resulted in 4.3% post debondings and 3.0% endodontic failures after 2 years of clinical service.