Dental Post Tooth

If a tooth is severely damaged or completely destroyed due to root canal treatment, making it impossible to use a crown, the dentist can reinforce the tooth with a post tooth so that the crown can be placed on top.

Types of Post Crowns

A post crown is not a traditional type of crown, but rather refers to a special anchoring of a crown in a tooth root. Today, the classic post crown, which is firmly anchored to a post, is no longer used. Instead, the post and crown usually consist of two independent components, called post-supported crowns or post-anchored crowns.

Materials

Post crowns are made of different materials. They can be made of prefabricated stainless steel or, as a new technology, are now made of fiber-reinforced composites. Porcelain and metal crowns can often be the best choice for molars. For incisors, dentists usually prefer all-porcelain crowns and zirconium crowns. For the front teeth, not only the restoration of functionality but also aesthetics is just as important.

Procedure

1. Root canal treatment: If the patient requires a post crown, the tooth may be too severely damaged. In this case, the patient will most likely also need a root canal treatment. However, not every patient requires root canal treatment.
2. Apical resection: If there is inflammation, infection, or other damage in the root area, the specialist should remove approximately 3 mm of the root tip and the inflamed area around the roots. The causes of inflammation and damage are usually poor dental hygiene or a strong blow to the tooth.
3. Fiber-reinforced composite post buildup: After the root canal treatment, the experienced dentist inserts a post buildup into the root canal. This buildup will be necessary to support the crown. The post is usually made of fiber-reinforced composite and positioned in the root canal and anchored in such a way that the crown remains stable.
4. Crown treatment: When the tooth is ready for a crown, the experienced dentist will work with the patient to determine the material and shade of the crown. Finally, they will place a lab-made crown on the damaged tooth. If more than one-third of the tooth root is damaged, the dentist may prefer implant treatment over post and core restoration.

After the treatment

To prevent further inflammation and infection, the experienced dentist will carefully remove the infected area, especially around the roots. By choosing an experienced dentist, common problems can be minimized and prevented. After post and core crown treatment, you should brush your teeth twice a day for life and visit the dentist regularly. You should also take good care of the area under the crown to prevent problems such as bad breath and gum disease. With good care and oral hygiene, a post and core tooth can last for years.