An examination of the impact of various magnification devices and fluorescent light utilization on the success rates and material loss in fiber post removal

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different visual guidance approaches (×2.5 surgical loupes, a dental operating microscope, and fluorescence-assisted magnification with ReVeal™) on tissue preservation and material-removal performance during fiber post removal. Posts were removed from single-rooted human teeth with single canal under a standardized ultrasonic protocol; three-dimensional analyses were performed on pre- and postoperative micro-CT datasets. Volumetric dentin loss, the amount of residual resin cement in the post space, and remaining dentin thickness (RDT: at cross-sections located 1–6 mm from the post tip, measurements were taken for the mesial and distal aspects) were calculated. For statistical evaluation, two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction and, where appropriate, nonparametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis with DSCF post hoc) were used; measurement reliability was confirmed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). According to the findings, post removal resulted in significant dentin loss in all groups (p<0.001). Groups using magnification showed a tendency toward lower material loss compared with the control group (naked eye); however, no difference in volume loss was detected among loupes, microscope, and fluorescence-assisted magnification (p>0.05). With respect to residual material, fluorescence-assisted magnification was associated with lower remnants than loupes (p<0.05). RDT decreased at all section levels, with a more pronounced reduction in the 2–4 mm band (p<0.001). Loss on the mesial surface was higher than on the distal (main effect of surface: p<0.05); this asymmetry was notably reduced in the microscope group (mesial–distal: p>0.05). In conclusion, magnification (loupes/microscope) may contribute to tissue preservation during fiber post removal, and a fluorescence-assisted approach offers additional benefit for the selective elimination of residual resin cement. Microscope use facilitated more centered and symmetric tissue removal along the canal axis. Micro-CT provided a reliable method for reproducible three-dimensional assessment of material loss and residual materials.