Post removal using a thick-walled hollow tube post design

The retention of a post into the root is critical for the successful restoration of an endodontically treated tooth. A total of 80 Access Posts (Nos. 0, 1, 2, and 3) comprising eight groups were cemented in root canals with two different luting agents, Flexi-Flow cem with titanium and zinc phosphate cement.Removal of these Access Posts was then performed with the corresponding retreatment drills.None of the samples for the No. 0 Access Posts were removed by extraction with the retreatment drills. None of the samples for the No. 1 Access Posts cemented with zinc phosphate were removed by extraction with the retreatment drills. All these posts were removed by hand with a hemostat, after breakage of the cement seal. 60% (group 3) and 40% (group 7) of the samples for the No. 2 Access Posts were removed by extraction with the corresponding retreatment drills. 80% (group 4) and 70% (group 8) of samples for the No. 3 Access Posts were removed by extraction with the corresponding retreatment drills. On an average removal of each Access Post Nos. 0 and 1 took between 1 and 2 minutes. On an average removal of each Access Post (Nos. 2 and 3) took between 2 and 3 minutes.No root fractures were observed for any sample with either technique. This was confirmed by visual and radiographic analysis.