What Are Post and Core Dental Crowns?

Dentist Blog

The vast majority of dental crowns are caps that are fitted over the top of a prepared tooth. However, this is only possible if there is a good deal of healthy tooth material left to allow for proper adhesion. If the tooth has been significantly damaged and your dentist feels that the root has retained a great deal of strength, then something called a post and core device may be considered. Keep reading to learn about them and about their benefits.

What Is a Post and Core Device?

A post and core dental crown is a tooth cap or crown that is attached to a damaged tooth in an unconventional way. Instead of using cement to connect the crown to the tooth's upper surface, the crown adheres to a metal device that is actually inserted into the center of the tooth. This device looks like a long screw with a rounded upper core.

The post and core are typically made from either steel or titanium, and this allows the device to be both strong and biocompatible so that rejection risks are reduced substantially.

The post is inserted directly into the center portion of the tooth. This means that a root canal procedure is required beforehand to remove the living tissues from the tooth. Once the tissues are removed, the post is screwed into the tooth. The core part of the device sits up above the gumline, and the metal head of the device is used to build up composite material. The composite makes up the attachment site for the crown.

What Are the Advantages of the Device?

The most significant advantage of the post and core device is the fact that your natural tooth can remain in your mouth. This means that extraction can be avoided and the tooth will remain functional. And, with the post device, your dentist can ensure that the tooth retains most of its stability so that future extractions can be avoided. Another benefit is that the post and core device is much cheaper than an implant procedure, which involves invasive surgery and extensive planning.

Keep in mind that the post and core device will need to be examined often for signs of failure. All dental prosthetic devices, even traditional crowns, have at least a small failure rate, and alternatives can be explored before serious consequences like bone infection develop.

If you want to know more about dental crown devices, speak with a dental professional who specializes in oral prosthetic devices.

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28 January 2019

The Reasons Why You Should Get A Root Canal

Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.