Precious Ultra-hard PFM Implant Crown High Yellow Gold Dental Post and Core

1. How does a dentist place a dental post and/or core?

• The dental core procedure.

Ultimately, the core is anchored in place both by the post and adjacent tooth structure.

A cast post and core is a single object (post and core combined) that is specially made for your tooth in a dental laboratory. Placing one is a two-visit procedure, and typically involves a higher cost (see estimated fees below).

Placing a prefabricated post is the less-expensive, single-visit process that we describe and illustrate on this page.

Studies confirm that both types of post and cores generally offer the same expected survival rates. Jung (2007) reports 90% vs. 94% at 8.5 years. Gomez-Polo (2011) reports 83% vs. 85% at 10 years. (Cast vs. prefabricated respectively.)

2. Completing the tooth's reconstruction.

Once the core, or post and core, has been completed, a dental crown can be fabricated for the tooth and placed.

Types of dental posts.

Traditionally, posts have been made out of metal (stainless steel, titanium, cast metal). In today's marketplace, ceramic (zirconia) and carbon-fiber posts are also available.

Flexible vs. rigid.

The flexible nature of carbon-fiber offers the advantage that as a tooth's root flexes under load this type of post will too, thus helping to prevent root fracture by way of reducing the amount of stress directed to it.

However, the bonding technique used to place them is technique sensitive, and thus placing a traditional rigid post using traditional cement may offer the more predictable outcome. (Raedel 2015)

White vs. metal.

The white, translucent nature of ceramic (zirconia) and some types of fiber posts offers an esthetic advantage over metal ones. The dark, opaque nature of metal posts can affect the apparent color of translucent all-ceramic dental crowns. This would be an especially important consideration for front teeth.

Cast-metal vs. prefabricated post and cores.

When placing a metal post, your dentist has the option of using a prefabricated or "cast" one.

Shaping the core.

The overall goal is to place enough dental restorative that once the tooth has been prepared (trimmed) for its new crown, the resulting tooth and core combination is generally the same size and shape as it would have been if no original tooth structure had been lost.

When placing a post and core:

The dentist will first use their drill to create a "post space." This space will generally lie within one of the root canals that was filled during the sealing portion of the tooth's endodontic treatment. A post, having specific dimensions matched to the post space that's been drilled, is then cemented or bonded into place. Once the post has been secured, dental restorative is packed over and around the post's exposed end so to create the core. (See animation below.)

When placing just a core alone:

The dentist will apply dental restorative (meaning filling material, such as dental amalgam or bonding) to the tooth, not unlike when a regular filling is placed. As a part of the process, they may also screw tiny "pins" into the tooth. As the restorative is packed around them, they help to anchor the core in place.