Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels: A Review
of Compositions, Properties, Laboratory, and Clinical
Test Results
Nadim Z. Baba, DMD, MSD,1 Gary Golden, DDS,2 & Charles J. Goodacre, DDS, MSD3
1
2
3
Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA
Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA
Professor and Dean, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA
Keywords
Nonmetallic prefabricated dowels; nonmetallic
prefabricated posts; restoration of
endodontically treated teeth; composition;
properties; laboratory results; clinical results.
Correspondence
Nadim Z. Baba, Loma Linda University,
School of Dentistry, Department of
Restorative Dentistry, 11092 Anderson St.,
Loma Linda, CA 92350. E-mail:
nbaba@llu.edu
Accepted July 16, 2008
doi: 10.1111/j.1532-849X.2009.00464.x
Abstract
Purpose: Prefabricated dowels have become popular, and a wide variety of systems are
available. Recently, in response to a need for tooth-colored dowels, several nonmetallic
dowels such as carbon-fiber epoxy resin, zirconia, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin,
and ultra-high polyethelene fiber-reinforced dowels are available. With a plethora of
different materials and systems currently available for use, an overview of the scientific
literature on nonmetallic dowels is indicated. This article reviews the current literature
dealing with the compositions, properties, and laboratory and clinical test results of
nonmetallic prefabricated dowels.
Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was completed seeking evidence
for the treatment of teeth with nonmetallic prefabricated dowels. A search of English
language peer-reviewed literature was undertaken using MEDLINE and PubMed with
a focus on clinical research articles published between 1996 and 2007. A hand search
of relevant dental journals was also completed.
Results: The literature demonstrates that in vitro investigations demonstrated favorable
physical and mechanical properties of these dowels; however, clinically, there has been
a wide range of reported failure percentages.
Conclusion: Since there is considerable variation in reported failure percentages,
longer-term studies are needed that present data regarding all types of complications
that have been identified in the literature.
Using a dowel to restore a tooth whose natural crown is missing
is not a recent dental treatment. In the Tokugawa era (1603 to
1867), the Japanese used wooden dental restorations designed
to function like the modern dowel crown.1 Pierre Fauchard
in his book, The Surgeon-Dentist, or, Treatise on the Teeth,
published in 1728, described a technique by which a silver post
was used to retain a natural tooth crown or an ivory crown
to a root.2 In 1876, The Richmond Porcelain and Gold Collar
Crown was introduced and was modified through the years to
become a one-piece dowel and crown.3,4 Root fractures and
other difficulties encountered with these early treatments led to
the development of cast dowels that continue to be used today.
Although modern endodontic, prosthodontic, and periodontal therapies have allowed patients to retain severely compromised teeth for longer periods of time, the restoration of these
teeth remains a challenge. Despite a number of innovations and
decades of research on dowels, failures still can occur when
endodontically treated teeth are restored. Studies indicate that
the most common dowel complications are post loosening and
root fracture;5-12 however, the overall clinical failure rate of
dowels remains relatively low. Combined data from eight studies indicated that dowels had an average absolute rate of failure
of 9% (7% to 14% range).7-11,13-17
Prefabricated dowels have become popular, and a wide variety of systems are available. Recently, in response to a need
for tooth-colored dowels, several nonmetallic dowels such as
carbon-fiber epoxy resin, zirconia, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy
resin, and ultra-high polyethelene fiber-reinforced dowels have
become available. The purpose of this article is to provide a synopsis of the available literature regarding these new nonmetallic
prefabricated dowels, including their compositions, properties,
laboratory test results, and clinical outcomes.
Methods
A comprehensive review of the literature was completed seeking evidence for the treatment of teeth with nonmetallic
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
527
Baba et al
Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels
prefabricated dowels. A search of English language peerreviewed literature was undertaken using MEDLINE and
PubMed with a focus on clinical research articles published between 1996 and 2007. A hand search of relevant dental journals
was also completed. Keywords included the following: carbon
fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels, carbon fiber-reinforced
epoxy resin posts, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels,
glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin posts, polyethylene fiberreinforced dowels, polyethylene fiber-reinforced posts, zirconia dowels, zirconia posts, along with combinations of the term
composition, physical properties, mechanical properties, laboratory studies, and clinical studies. Available abstracts were
reviewed, and full-text articles of selected abstracts obtained
online or via the interlibrary loan program at Loma Linda University Library.
Results
Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels
Composition and properties
The carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowel system (CF) was
developed in France in 1988 by Duret and Renaud18-20 and first
introduced in Europe in the early 1990s.21-23 The matrix for this
dowel is an epoxy resin reinforced with unidirectional carbon
fibers parallel to the long axis of the dowel. The fibers are 8 µm
in diameter, and uniformly embedded in the epoxy resin matrix. By weight, the fibers comprise 64% of the dowel and are
stretched before injection of the resin matrix to maximize the
physical properties of the dowel.18,24,25 The dowel is reported
to absorb applied stresses and distribute these stresses along
the entire channel.26 The bulk of the carbon fiber is made from
polyacrylonitrile by heating it in air at 200◦ C to 250◦ C and then
in an inert atmosphere at 1200◦ C. This process removes hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, leaving a chain of carbon atoms and
forming carbon fibers.27
The carbon fiber-reinforced dowel has been reported to exhibit high fatigue strength, high tensile strength, and a modulus of elasticity similar to dentin.21,24,28-30 The dowel was
originally radiolucent; however, a radiopaque dowel is now
available. Radiopacity is produced by placing traces of barium sulfate and/or silicate inside the post. Mannocci et al31
radiographically examined five types of fiber dowels. They
found that only two of the five dowels had uniform radiopacity. Finger et al32 examined the radiopacity of seven fiberreinforced resin dowels and found CF posts had an acceptable
radiopacity.
The dowel is also available in different shapes: double
cylindrical with conical stabilization floors or conical shapes
(Fig 1).
The surface texture of the dowel may be smooth or serrated. Studies have indicated that serrations increase mechanical retention although the smooth-sided dowel also bonds well
to adhesive dental resin.30,33 The surface of the dowel has a
roughness of 5 to10 µm to enhance mechanical adhesion of
autopolymerizing luting materials, and the dowel appears to be
biocompatible based on cytotoxicity tests.29,34
528
Figure 1 Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels.
Laboratory test results
Physical property tests of CF dowels have produced contrasting
results; some studies found them to be stronger than metal
dowels,25,28 whereas other studies determined their strength
was comparable25,28 or inferior35-37 to metal dowels.
The fracture resistance of extracted teeth restored with
CF dowels has been extensively evaluated. Several studies28,35,37,38-41 indicate CF dowels are less likely to cause root
fracture than metal dowels; however, two studies42,43 found
no significant difference in tooth fracture resistance, and one
study38 reported a significantly higher fracture threshold for
cast metal dowels.
Multiple studies42,44-47 determined there was a decrease in
the strength properties of CF dowels after thermal cycling and
cyclic loading. Additionally, contact of CF dowels with oral
fluids reduced their flexural strength values.34,46,47
A proposed advantage of fractured CF dowels is their purported ease of removal.37,48-52 A removal kit has been suggested48-51 for dowel removal with a recommendation that it be
a single-use item.49
Clinical outcomes
Twelve studies have clinically evaluated CF dowels with a wide
range of failure percentage being reported (Table 1). Failure
rates have ranged from zero after a mean postplacement
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
Baba et al
Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels
Table 1 Clinical studies for carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels (CF)
Lead author
Study length
Dowels
placed
CF dowels
placed
% of clinical
failure
173
236
200
1304
173
236
100
1055
1.73%
0%
5%
2.8%
Wennström J, 1996
Fredriksson M, 1998
Ferrari M, 200057
Ferrari M, 200056
3 to 4 yrs
2 to 3 yrs (mean 2.7)
1 to 4 yrs (mean 3.8)
1 to 6 yrs (mean 3.8)
Glazer B, 2000
6 months to 4 yrs (mean 2.3)
59
59
7.7%
Mannocci F, 2002
King PA, 2003
Hedlund SO, 2003
Tidehag P, 2004
Mannocci F, 2005
Segerstrom S, 2006
1 to 3 yrs
1 to 8 yrs (mean 7.3)
1 to 4.9 yrs (mean 2.3)
5 to 9 yrs (mean 7.2)
1 to 5 yrs
1 month to 10 yrs (mean 6.7)
117
27
65
642
219
99
117
16
65
642
110
99
6.5%
28.5%
3%
10%
10%
35%
Ferrari M, 2007
7 to 11 yrs
985
775
7.2%
time of 2.7 years53 to a high of 35% after a mean
postplacement time of 6.7 years.54 Other reported failure rates were: 1.73% after 3 to 4 years,22 3% after a
mean time of 2.3 years,55 2.8% after a mean time of
3.8 years,56 5% after a mean time of 3.8 years,57 7.2% after
7 to 11 years,58 7.7% after a mean time of 2.3 years,59 10%
after a mean time of 7.2 years,60 10% after 1 to 5 years,61 6.5%
after 1 to 3 years,62 and 28.5% after a mean time of 7.3 years.63
The types of failures have been dowel loosening, periapical
pathology, root fracture, crown debonding, secondary caries,
periodontitis, dowel fracture, tooth extraction for unspecified
reasons, and unknown reasons for failures.
Dowel loosening was reported in seven of the 12 studies,55,56,59,60,62,63 whereas there was no reported loosening in
five studies.22,53,57,58,61 Of the studies that reported dowel loosening, only five54,55,59,62,63 quantified the number of dowels
that loosened. In these five studies, the following dowel loosening data were provided: 1 of 59 dowels loosened,59 2 of 65
dowels loosened,59 3 of 99 dowels loosened,54 4 of 27 dowels
loosened,63 and 3 of 117 dowels loosened.62
Periapical pathology was reported in five54,55,57-59 of the 12
studies with 2 of 100,35 2 of 59,59 10 of 99,54 and 10 of 77558
failures occurring via this means. One study56 indicated periapical pathology was encountered, but the number of failures
produced from this source was not identified.
Root fracture occurred in three of the studies22,54,58 where 2
of 173,22 14 of 99,54 and 14 of 77558 roots fractured. Crown
debonding was reported in three studies,58-60 and dowel fracture
was reported in one study.22
Glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels
Composition and properties
The glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowel (GF) is made of
glass or silica fibers (white or translucent). Glass fiber dow-
Types of failure
2 root fractures, 1 dowel fracture
5 extracted teeth as a result of dubious treatment
3 excluded (noncompliance), 2 periapical pathology
30 failures (dowel debonding and periapical
pathology) number for each type of failure not
specified
2 periapical pathology, 1 dowel debonding, 1 crown
debonding
3 dowel debonding, 4 marginal gap formation
4 dowel debonding
2 dowel debonding
dowel debonding crown debonding
10 secondary caries
3 dowel debonding, 14 root fractures, 10 periapical
pathology, 5 periodontitis, 3 unknown diagnosis
11 crown debonding, 14 root fractures,
10 periapical pathology, 5 periodontitis,
3 unknown diagnosis
els can be made of different types of glasses: electrical glass,
high-strength glass, or quartz fibers.39,64 The commonly used
fibers are silica-based (50% to 70% SiO 2 ), in addition to other
oxides.65
The GF dowel is available in different shapes: cylindrical,
cylindroconical, or conical (Fig 2). An in vitro assessment of
several GF dowel systems indicated that parallel-sided GF dowels are more retentive than tapered GF dowels.66
The composition of the glass fibers in the matrix tends to play
an important role in the strength of the dowel. Newman et al45
compared the fracture resistance of two GF dowels containing
different weight percentages of glass fibers. They found that
the higher content of glass fibers in the dowel contributed to
the greater strength displayed by the tested dowel.
Laboratory test results
The flexural strength of GF dowels is not related to the type of
glass fiber used. One study67 evaluated the flexural strength of
carbon-fiber, quartz-fiber, and glass-fiber dowels. It was found
that the dowels behaved similarly because of the same concentration and type of the epoxy resin used to join the fibers
together. The yield strength of GF, titanium, and zirconia dowels was also evaluated in vitro.68 The yield strength was significantly higher for the zirconia and titanium dowels when
compared with GF dowels.
Two studies69,70 indicated that the tensile bond strength between the composite resin core material and the GF dowel is
less than that developed with a titanium dowel. Other studies62,71 indicated there was a good adhesive bond between the
GF dowel and composite resin cements. The bonding of the
core to the dowel can be improved by treating the dowel with
airborne-particle abrasion.72 Similar results were obtained by
treating the surface of the dowel with hydrogen peroxide and
silane or hydrofluoric acid and silane.73,74
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
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Baba et al
Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels
Figure 2 Designs and shapes of available glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels.
Similar to CF dowels, GF dowels have been shown in multiple studies45,75-77 to be less likely to cause fracture of the root at
failure; however, studies40,78-81 have discussed the importance
of the presence of a ferrule effect in achieving a high success
rate.
Clinical outcomes
Eight studies have clinically evaluated GF dowels, and a wide
range of failure percentages have been reported (Table 2).
Failure rates have ranged from zero after a mean postplacement time of 2.3 years82 to a high of 11.4% after 1
to 2 years.83 Other reported failure rates were: 1.7% after
2.5 years,77 4% after 2.5 years,84 4.4% after a mean time of
3.8 years,56 6.2% after 2 years,81 7.4% after 2 years,85 and 11%
after 7 to 11 years.58
The types of failures have been dowel loosening, periapical pathology, root fracture, crown debonding, dowel fracture, core failure, restoration fracture, and unknown reasons for
failures.
Dowel loosening was reported in six of the eight studies,56,58,77,81,83,85 whereas there was no reported loosening in
two studies.82,84 Of the studies that reported dowel loosening,
only five58,77,81,83,85 quantified the number of dowels that loosened. In these five studies, the following dowel loosening data
were provided: 5 of 210 dowels loosened,58 2 of 205 dowels loosened,77 7 of 225 dowels loosened,81 2 of 105 dowels
loosened,83 and 7 of 162 dowels loosened.85
Periapical pathology was reported in five56,58,81,84,85 of the
eight studies with 11 of 210,58 7 of 225,81 4 of 100,84
and 5 of 16285 failures occurring this way. One study56
Table 2 Clinical studies for glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels (GF)
Lead author
Study length
Dowels
placed
GF dowels
placed
% of clinical
failure
Ferrari M, 2000
1 to 6 yrs (mean 3.8)
1304
249
4.4%
Malferrari S, 2003
Monticelli F, 2003
Naumann M, 2005
2.5 yrs
2 yrs
1 to 2 yrs
205
225
105
205
225
105
1.7%
6.2%
11.4%
Grandini S, 2005
Naumann M, 2007
Cagidiaco MC, 2007
Ferrari M, 2007
2.5 yrs
2 to 3 yrs (mean 2.3)
2 yrs
7to 11 yrs
100
87
162
985
100
41
162
210
4%
0%
7.4%
11%
530
Types of failure
11 failures (dowel debonding and periapical pathology)
number for each type of failure not specified
2 dowel debonding, 1 fractured restoration
8 dowel debonding, 6 periapical pathology
2 dowel debonding, 1 root fracture, 7 dowel fracture,
1 core failure, 1 other
4 periapical pathology, 5 partial loss of restoration
No failures
7 dowel debonding, 5 periapical pathology
5 dowel debonding, 6 crown debonding, 11 periapical
pathology, 1 root fracture
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
Baba et al
Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels
Table 3 Clinical studies for polyethylene fiber-reinforced dowels (PF)
Lead author
Study length
Turker SB, 2007
1 to 6 yrs
(mean 2.9)
Dowels
placed
% of clinical
failure
42
2.4%
Types of
failure
1 dowel
debonding
tooth structure.45 These results may be attributed to the manufacturer’s recommendations not to enlarge the root canals, not
to remove undercuts present in the root canal, and form a 1.5to 2-mm crown ferrule. The presence of a large volume of core
material and a sufficient dentin bonding area coronally seems
to greatly affect the mean load-to-failure value of PF posts.45
Eskitascioglu et al89 evaluated two dowel systems using a fracture strength test and a finite element analysis. They found that
stress accumulated along the cervical region of the tooth and
along the buccal bone. Minimum stress was recorded within the
PF dowel system. They suggested that the PF dowel could be
advantageous for the restoration of teeth with apical resection.
The use of PF dowels to restore endodontically treated teeth
appears to be a promising alternative to stainless steel and
zirconia dowels with respect to microleakage.90 Usumez et al90
compared in vitro the microleakage of three esthetic, adhesively
luted dowel systems with a conventional dowel system. They
found that the PF dowels and the GF dowels exhibited less
microleakage compared to zirconia dowels.
R
Figure 3 (A) Polyethylene fiber-reinforced dowel, Ribbond
- THM.
(B) Close-up of polyethylene fiber-reinforced dowel material.
indicated periapical pathology was encountered, but the number
of failures produced from this source was not identified.
Root fracture occurred in two of the studies,58,83 where 1 of
21058 and 1 of 10583 dowels fractured. Crown debonding was
reported in one study58 and dowel fracture in one study.83
Polyethylene fiber-reinforced dowels
Composition, properties, and laboratory test results
Polyethylene fiber-reinforced dowels (PF) are made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene-woven fiber ribbon (Ribbond, Ribbond Inc, Seattle, WA). It is not a dowel in the traditional sense; it is a polyethylene-woven fiber ribbon coated
with a dentin bonding agent and packed into the canal, where it
is then light polymerized in position.86-88 The Ribbond material has a three-dimensional (3D) structure due either to a leno
weave or a triaxial architectural design (Fig 3A, B). These designs are composed of a great number of nodal intersections that
prevent crack propagation and provide mechanical retention for
the composite resin cement. When PF dowels were compared
with metal dowels in the laboratory, the fiber-reinforced dowels
reduced the incidence of vertical root fracture. The addition of
a small-size prefabricated dowel to the PF dowel increased the
strength of the dowel complex; however, the strength of the PF
dowel did not approach that of a cast metal dowel.86
When compared to other fiber-reinforced composite dowel
systems, the PF dowels were also found to protect the remaining
Clinical outcomes
One study91 has clinically evaluated PF dowels (Table 3). The
failure rate was reported to be 2.4% after a mean time of
2.9 years. In this study 1 of 42 dowels loosened. Dowel loosening was reported to be the only cause of failure of the PF dowel.
Zirconia dowels
Composition and properties
The trend toward the use of all-ceramic crowns has encouraged
manufacturers to explore the development of all-ceramic dowels.92-95 A tooth-colored ceramic avoids the discoloration of
tooth structure that can occur with metal dowels and produces
optical properties comparable to all-ceramic crowns.96-99 One
type of all-ceramic dowel is the zirconia dowel, composed of
zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), an inert material used for a range of
applications. Its high fracture toughness, high flexural strength,
and excellent resistance to corrosion encouraged orthopedists
to use it at articulation surfaces.100 Studies have suggested that
zirconia specimens transplanted in animals were very stable
after long-term aging, and there was no apparent degradation
of the specimens.100,101-104
Zirconia (tetragonal zirconium polycrystals, TZP) exhibits
phase transformation. Low-temperature degradation of TZP is
known to occur as a result of spontaneous phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia to monoclinic phase during aging
at 130◦ C to 300◦ C, possibly within a water environment. It
has been reported that this degradation leads to a decrease in
strength due to the formation of microcracks accompanying the
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
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Baba et al
Nonmetallic Prefabricated Dowels
Laboratory test results
Figure 4 Available shapes of zirconia dowels.
phase transformation. To inhibit this phase transformation, certain oxides (magnesium, yttrium, or calcium oxide) are added
to fully or partially stabilize the tetragonal phase of zirconia at
room temperature. This mechanism is known as transformation
toughening.95,101,105-107
The type of zirconia used for dental dowels is composed of
TZP with 3% mol yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) and is called Y-TZP
(Yttrium-stabilized tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia).95,108
Y-TZP is composed of a dense fine-grained structure (0.5 µm
average diameter) that provides the dowel with toughness and
a smooth surface.106,108,109
The dowel is extremely radiopaque and biocompatible, possesses high flexural strength and fracture toughness, and may
act similar to steel.101-105,110-119 In addition, the dowel has low
solubility116 and is not affected by thermocycling.44 The dowel
is available in a cylindroconical shape (Fig 4).
The zirconia dowel has a smooth surface configuration with
no grooves, serrations, or roughness to enhance mechanical
retention. As a result, the zirconia dowel does not bond well
to composite resins and may not provide the best support for
a brittle all-ceramic crown.69,120-123 Dietshi et al122 found that
these dowels also have poor resin-bonding capabilities to dentin
after dynamic loading and thermocycling due to the rigidity of
the dowel. In a cyclic loading test performed in a wet environment, Mannocci et al123 found that the survival rate of
zirconia dowels compared to fiber dowels was significantly
lower.
In vitro studies69,59,124,125 indicate that the smooth surface
configuration of untreated zirconia dowels leads to failure at
the cement/post interface. The vast majority of the cement remained in the root and was not attached to the zirconia dowels. Wegner and Kern126 evaluated the bond strength of composite resin cement to zirconia dowels. They found that the
long-term bond strength of the composite resin cement to zirconia dowels is weak. Several studies126-129 found that acid
etching and silanization of zirconia dowels does not improve
the strength of the resin bond to the zirconia-based material
because of little or no silica content in the dowel; however,
tribochemical silica coating was found to increase the bond
strength of composite resin to the zirconia dowel.130,131 Oblak
et al132 compared the fracture resistance of prefabricated zirconia dowels after different surface treatments. They found
that airborne-particle-abraded dowels exhibited significantly
higher resistance to fracture than those ground with a diamond
instrument.
The use of heat-pressed glass instead of composite resin to
form the core has been suggested.114,115,133 This approach may
improve the physical properties of the all-ceramic dowel.
When the mechanical properties of zirconia dowels were
evaluated, it was reported that these dowels are very stiff and
strong, with no plastic behavior.112,114 Pfeiffer et al68 found
that the zirconia dowel had a significantly higher yield strength
compared to titanium and GFR dowels.
Several studies37,134,135 indicate that many commonly used
dowels exhibit higher fracture resistance than zirconia dowels.
In addition, if they fracture, the retained segment may not be retrievable, and the tooth would therefore not be restorable.39,135
Clinical outcomes
Two studies136,137 have clinically evaluated zirconia dowels
(Table 4). One study had no failures after a mean time of
2.4 years.134 In one study, the failure rate was reported to be 9%
after a mean time of 4.8 years. Dowel loosening was reported
to be the only cause of failure of the zirconia dowel.
Table 4 Clinical studies for zirconia dowels
Lead author
Paul SJ, 2004
Nothdurft F, 2006
532
Study length
1 to 9 yrs
(mean 4.8)
8 months to 3.6 yrs (mean 2.4)
Dowels placed
145; Group 1: 79 direct composite,
Group 2: 34 glass-ceramic core
30
% of clinical failure
Types of failure
Group 1: No failures
Group 2: 9%
0%
Group 2: dowel
debonding
No failures
c 2009 by The American College of Prosthodontists
Journal of Prosthodontics 18 (2009) 527–536
Baba et al
Conclusions
Clinical practice trends have recently included nonmetallic prefabricated dowels such as carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin
dowels, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin dowels, polyethylene
fiber-reinforced dowels, and zirconia dowels. This literature review on in vitro investigations demonstrates favorable physical
and mechanical properties of these dowels; however, clinically,
there has been a wide range of reported failure percentages.
Dowel loosening was reported in 16 of the 23 studies, making it the most commonly reported complication. Other complications (periapical pathology, root fracture, crown debonding, periodontitis, dowel fracture, and secondary caries) were
reported less frequently than dowel loosening. A number of
factors, such as the ferrule effect from the final restoration, humidity of the mouth, altering temperature changes, and fatigue
loading, would likely play a role on the retentive strength of all
prefabricated dowels in clinical service. Dowels with adequate
ferrule substantially aid in preventing root fractures. It has been
reported that a dowel does not strengthen a tooth, but it also
does not weaken a tooth when there is a 2-mm ferrule.138 Since
there is considerable variation in reported failure percentages,
longer-term studies are needed to present data regarding all the
types of complications identified in the literature.
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