STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Tapered posts allow for the preservation of tooth substance in the fragile apical area and are advantageous in clinical situations where they conform to the root and canal configuration of endodontically treated teeth. However, their lower retention compared with passive parallel-sided or active threaded posts is a disadvantage. PURPOSE: This study determined the retentive strength of tapered titanium posts with different surface textures and examined the effect of roughening dentinal walls of the prepared post space. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Posts with four surface configurations (smooth, with and without grooves, and sandblasted, with and without grooves) were examined when cemented in extracted anterior teeth. RESULTS: The smooth post showed the lowest retentive strength. Sandblasting the smooth post more than doubled its retentive strength. The retentive strength of both smooth and sandblasted posts could be further increased by the addition of circumferential grooves. Roughening the dentinal walls of the prepared post space increased the retentive strength of sandblasted posts with and without grooves even more. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that, when a tapered post is used, roughening the dentin canal wall, as well as sandblasting and grooving the post, can provide statistically significant additional resistance to dislodgment.
