Finite element analysis of endodontically treated premolars without ferrule restored with one-piece glass fiber post and core in combination with different inner shoulder retention form systems.

Objective: The current study was performed to explore the impact of post materials as well as the inner shoulder retention form (ISRF) design on the biomechanical behavior of endodontically treated premolars without ferrule restoration using a method of mathematical three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA).

Methods: Based on the tooth anatomy and our previous research, eight mandibular second premolar FEA models representing different restorative situations were built: teeth with (a) 2.0 mm height ferrule (DF), (b) no ferrule (NF), (c) 0.5 mm width and 0.5 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW0.5D0.5), (d) 0.5 mm width and 1.0 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW0.5D1.0), (e) 0.5 mm width and 1.5 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW0.5D1.5), (f) 1.0 mm width and 0.5 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW1.0D0.5), (g) 1.0 mm width and 1.0 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW1.0D1.0), (h) 1.0 mm width and 1.5 mm depth ISRF (ISRFW1.0D1.5). All groups were restored with prefabricated glass fiber post and resin composite core (PGF), one-piece glass fiber post-and-core (OGF) and cast Co-Cr alloy (Co-Cr) respectively, and the zirconia crown was restored. Load (180N) was subjected to the buccal cusp at 45° to the tooth's long axis. Stress pattern, maximum principal stress values (MPS), and maximum displacement values on root, post and core, cement layer were calculated for each model.

Results: Stress distributions were similar while the values were different among groups. Regardless of restorative approaches, roots restored with PGF showed the highest MPS values, followed by OGF and Co-Cr groups. Regardless of post materials, NF groups resulted in the highest MPS values and maximum displacement values, while ISRF and DF groups exhibited similar results. Compared with PGF groups in association with ISRF, except for OGF with ISRFW0.5D0.5, the remaining OGF groups with ISRF and all Co-Cr groups in association with ISRF presented lower values than that of DF groups. And among different ISRF systems, roots restored with ISRFW1.0D1.0 presented the lowest stress (PGF: 32.96 MPa, OGF: 31.69 MPa, Co-Cr: 29.66 MPa).

Conclusions: For endodontically treated premolars without ferrule, restored with OGF in combination with ISRF preparation could effectively enhanced its load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, the ISRF with a depth and width of 1.0 mm is recommended.