Comparison of the Bond Strength of PEEK Post-and-Core Systems After Surface Treatment with Er: YAG and CO₂ Lasers: An In Vitro Study

This study aimed to evaluate the bonding strength of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) posts and cores to root dentin after various surface treatments: Er:YAG laser (with and without contact), CO₂ laser (without contact), and sandblasting. Thirty-two single-rooted premolars were decoronated and endodontically treated. Custom CAD/CAM PEEK posts and cores were fabricated and divided into four groups (n=8): Group 1 – sandblasted with 50 μm Al₂O₃; Group 2 – Er:YAG laser in contact; Group 3 – Er:YAG laser non-contact; Group 4 – CO₂ laser non-contact. All posts were cemented with dual-cure resin cement and subjected to a pull-out bond strength test using a universal testing machine. Results were analyzed using SPSS v13.0 with ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Descriptive analysis showed Group 2 (Er:YAG contact) had the highest mean bond strength (88.50 ± 31.08 N), followed by Group 4 (CO₂, 56.75 ± 14.52 N), Group 1 (Sandblasting, 42.50 ± 13.69 N), and Group 3 (Er:YAG non-contact, 31.63 ± 5.55 N). ANOVA confirmed statistically significant differences (P<0.05), and post-hoc analysis indicated that Group 2 differed significantly from all others. Er:YAG laser surface treatment in contact mode significantly enhances the bond strength between PEEK posts and resin cement. This technique may offer an effective alternative to traditional surface treatments for PEEK-based post and core systems.