Evaluation of glass-cermet cores under cast crowns

The goal of this study was to compare two core materials-glass-cermet and amalgam-in terms of crown retention when significant tooth structure is missing. The glass-cermet's ability to bond to teeth with and without the aid of retentive pins and/or grooves was examined. The effects of two storage solutions, formalin and sodium azide, on the bond of the glass-cermet were also evaluated. Sixty human molars were obtained and stored in either formalin or sodium azide. Thirty molars were prepared with one wall of tooth structure remaining, and the other 30 were prepared with two walls. Before being restored with glass-cermet, the preparations received either no retention, retentive grooves and pins, or retentive grooves only. Each preparation restored with amalgam received pins and grooves. Type III gold crowns were cemented in vitro with glass-ionomer luting agent, thermocycled 2500 times (5-50°C), and then removed under a tensile force. The glass-cermet material may be comparable to amalgam and has adequate adhesion to the tooth, without additional retention, when at least two walls of the tooth remain. However, when only one wall of the tooth remains, the amalgam core is superior under tensile forces. There was a significant difference between the sodium azide and formalin storage solutions with regard to bond strength in one group (two walls, no pins, no grooves). In general, the cores placed on teeth stored in sodium azide exhibited tensile bond strengths lower than those stored in formalin.