Effect of different intraradicular posts in the dimensions of root canal computed tomography images.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of different intraradicular posts on the dimensions of computed tomography (CT) images in cone-beam and fan-beam equipment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: : A total of 15 root canals of bovine teeth were instrumented up to a file #50 and root-filled by the active lateral condensation technique. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups, according to the type of intraradicular post: 1) tight fiberglass post; 2) anatomical fiberglass post; and 3) metal post. The root canals were desobturated in 10 mm and tomographic images were acquired in two devices, a cone-beam and fan-beam equipment. Then, the intraradicular posts were cemented using an automix self-conditioning and self-adhesive resin cement, and the final acquisitions of the CT images were performed for analysis. The diameter of the canal was compared before and after cementation of the intraradicular posts. The t-test was used between the initial and final measurements of each tomograph and also between the cone-beam and fan-beam tomographs (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The anatomical fiberglass post presented the smallest dimensional change among the initial and final measurements, followed by the tight fiberglass post, with the metal post being the material that showed the most considerable dimensional difference in the cone-beam. CONCLUSION: All of the intraradicular posts used promoted a change in the size of the CT image. The fan-beam scanner promoted greater dimensional change in the images.