Effect of Surface Treatments on Tensile Bond Strength and on Morphology of Quartz-fiber Posts

This study evaluated the effect of three post surface treatments on quartz-fiber post (a) retention and (b) morphology. A control group was not treated. Different treatments were performed for the other posts: silanization; etching by hydrofluoric acid 9.5%; sandblasting with 50 microm Al2O3. Two specimens of each group were submitted to a qualitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Remaining specimens were luted in prepared root canals (n = 10) and retentions were determined using a universal testing machine. Retentive post bond strengths were significantly enhanced with any tested post surface pretreatment. The increase in retentive strength was more remarkable in sandblasted and etched posts. Significant changes of post surfaces were SEM observed after different conditioning treatments.