A dental post and core connects a tooth that has had a root canal to a crown. When indicated, it is placed in a tooth to help retain the core. When a post is placed, it is made on a tooth after a root canal and prior to placing a crown. A post is often indicated on a tooth that is weakened due to heavy decay or trauma.
Not all root canal teeth need posts and cores, however many do. After the placement of a post and core, it is recommended that a crown be placed on the tooth. Waiting too long for the crown may cause the tooth to fracture.
The first step in placing a post is performing root canal therapy on the tooth to remove the infection and shape the root canal to receive the post.
First a post is selected and then cemented or bonded in place. After the post is in place, we fill the tooth with the core material. Once it has set, the core material is shaped and prepared to receive a crown. We then take an impression of your teeth so a dental laboratory can custom craft a crown that will precisely fit your tooth.
A tooth needing a root canal usually has a large filling or lots of decay and much of the original tooth is gone. For the crown to be successful, it must have a good foundation. The core build-up provides this support. It also replaces the original shape of the tooth so that it will be easier to design a crown.
After a root canal is done, all of the old filling and decay are removed. This sometimes leaves a shell of a tooth and a core build up replaces the missing tooth material. The remaining tooth is cleaned and special material is placed into the core. The material replaces the entire missing tooth and strengthens what’s left to prevent breakage.
