A Novel Concept for Developing a Precise and Predictable Post and Core Complex Using the Injectable Resin Technique

Douglas A. Terry, DDS; John O. Burgess, DDS, MS; John M. Powers, PhD; and Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD

March 2024 Issue - Expires Wednesday, March 31st, 2027

Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry

Abstract

Post systems have long been used in the roots of teeth to retain dental restorations. The primary objectives of current post and core systems are to replace missing coronal tooth structure, retain the core, and provide sufficient retention and resistance form to the final restoration to restore original form and function. Many varieties of user-friendly post and core systems are available today for different endodontic, restorative, and esthetic requirements. The present article provides a history of post and core usage in dentistry, describes various systems and materials for this purpose, and discusses empirical data regarding fiber-reinforced post systems.

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For more than 250 years, clinicians have utilized the placement of posts in the roots of teeth to retain restorations.1,2 As early as 1728, Pierre Fauchard described the use of "tenons" or metal posts screwed into the roots of teeth to retain bridges.1,3 In the mid-1800s, wood replaced metal as the post material, and the "pivot crown" became popular among dentists; this was a wooden post fitted to an artificial crown and the root canal.1,2,4 Often, these wooden posts would absorb fluids and expand, frequently causing root fractures.4 In the late 19th century, the "Richmond crown," a single-piece post-retained crown with a porcelain facing, was engineered to function as a bridge retainer.2,4 During the 1930s, the custom cast post and core was developed to replace the one-piece post crowns. This procedure required casting a post and core as a separate component from the crown.4 This two-step technique improved marginal adaptation, allowed variation in the path of insertion of the crown,1 and provided a better alignment of the core when the tooth being restored was flared or overlapped the adjacent tooth. In the 1990s, tooth-colored fiber posts debuted as an alternative to these conventional metal post systems.5

The Post and Core Landscape

From the past to the present, the rationale for the utilization of a post system has metamorphosed. The concepts of the past were designed with the belief that endodontically treated teeth were brittle from a loss of moisture6 and required a post to strengthen the weakened tooth.7 Although there is a reduction in moisture content after endodontic treatment, current concepts refute this postulate.6,8,9 Current concepts supported by evidence-based research indicate that the primary objective of any post and core system is to replace missing coronal tooth structure, retain the core,10-12 and provide sufficient retention13,14 and resistance form to the final restoration to restore original form and function.10,11,15 Today, clinicians can choose from a variety of user-friendly post and core systems for different endodontic, restorative, and esthetic requirements.8,16,17 These systems and methods are well documented in the literature.8,11,12,18,19 However, no single post system meets the demands for favorable biomechanical compatibility20,21 or provides the perfect restorative solution for every clinical circumstance, and each situation requires an individual evaluation.22

Furthermore, the reconstruction of endodontically treated teeth can present restorative and esthetic challenges for the technician and clinician.23 The failure of these post-retained systems has been documented in numerous clinical studies.10,13,21,24-29 Many of these studies indicate that the failure rate of restorations on pulpless teeth with posts and cores is higher than that for restorations of vital teeth because of their structural differences and the significant loss of tissue.30-35 Several main causes of failure of post-retained restorations have been identified, including recurrent caries, endodontic failure, periodontal disease, post dislodgment, cement failure, post-core separation, crown-core separation, loss of post retention, core fracture, loss of crown retention, post distortion, post fracture, tooth fracture, root perforation (Figure 1), improper post placement (Figure 2), and root fracture.11,36,37Also, corrosion of metal posts has been proposed as a cause of root fracture.38 A post and core system fabricated with dissimilar metals can cause galvanic corrosion that occurs between the two dissimilar materials.39 This gradual destructive process involves the electrical interaction of at least two different metals or nonmetallic conductors in an environment (ie, microleakage) that accelerates the corrosion of at least one of them, while the least noble metal corrodes the most.

The traditional custom cast dowel core provides a better geometric adaptation to excessively flared or elliptical canals and almost always requires minimal removal of tooth structure.1 Custom cast posts and cores adapt well to extremely tapered canals or those with a noncircular cross section and/or irregular shape and roots with minimal remaining coronal tooth structure.22 Patterns for custom cast posts can be formed either directly in the mouth or indirectly in the laboratory. Regardless, this method requires two appointment visits and a laboratory fee. Also, because it is cast in an alloy with a modulus of elasticity that can be as high as 10 times greater than that of natural dentin,40 this possible incompatibility and rigidity can create stress concentrations in the less rigid root, resulting in post separation or failure.41,42 Additionally, the transmission of occlusal forces through the metal core can focus stresses at specific regions of the root, causing root fracture (Figure 3).40 Furthermore, upon esthetic consideration, the cast-metal post can result in discoloration and shadowing of the gingiva and the cervical aspect of the tooth (Figure 4).43

An alternative and currently more popular method for developing the intraradicular space is the prefabricated post and core system. These systems are classified according to their geometry (ie, shape and surface configuration) and method of retention. The methods of retention are designated as active or passive. Active posts engage the dentin walls of the post space preparation during cementation, whereas passive posts do not engage the dentin but rely on the use of cement for retention.1,44 The basic post shapes and surface configurations are tapered serrated, tapered smooth-sided, tapered threaded, parallel serrated, parallel smooth-sided, and parallel threaded. While active or threaded posts are more retentive than passive posts,45,46 active posts create high stress concentrations in root dentin at each thread during placement.46-48 These stresses have the potential to create cracks that can increase the susceptibility of root fracture when occlusal forces are applied.49-52 Thus, a significant cause of failure with an active post system is root fracture.53-55 More-recent modern designs provide a collar that limits insertion, flexible tips (eg, Flexipost), and stress-reducing thread design. Metal screws have a survival rate of 78% after 1 year and 50% after 5 years.51,56 Parallel-sided serrated posts are the most retentive of the passive prefabricated posts, and the tapered smooth-sided posts are the least retentive of all designs.4

Traditional prefabricated metal posts are made of platinum-gold-palladium, brass, nickel-chromium (stainless steel), pure titanium, titanium alloys, and chromium alloys.4,10,36 Although stainless steel is stronger, the potential for adverse tissue responses to nickel has resulted in the use of a biocompatible titanium alloy.57,58 Also, contributing factors to root fracture such as excessive stiffness (modulus of elasticity)59 and post corrosion4,25 (Figure 5) from many of these metal posts have generated concerns about their use. In addition, prefabricated metal posts can negatively affect the esthetic result.

Nonmetallic prefabricated posts have been developed as alternatives, including ceramic (white zirconia) posts, carbon-fiber posts, and fiber-reinforced resin posts. Zirconia posts have a high flexural strength and are biocompatible and corrosion-resistant.60 This material, however, is difficult to section with a diamond bur intraorally and remove from the canal for retreatment.36 Carbon-fiber posts are made from unidirectional carbon fibers held together with an epoxy resin and ceramic. They exhibit strength and relatively high flexibility and can be retrieved from the canal preparation with ease for retreatment. However, their black color has a negative effect on the final esthetic result of all-ceramic crowns.57 New advances with next-generation tooth-colored posts, which are identical in design to conventional carbon-fiber posts, reduce this esthetic challenge.

Currently, an increased demand for clinically convenient post and core systems to replace lost tooth structure has provided clinicians with a plethora of simplified "one-visit" post and core restorative options.61 Thus, clinicians may be unsure about which restorative materials and techniques to use to achieve optimal results for post and core buildup procedures. As modern dental research continues its quest for the ideal material to restore lost tooth structure, many post and core techniques are available to clinicians for a variety of clinical procedures, and each clinical situation should be evaluated individually.22,61 Clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated that fiber-reinforced resin posts provide an excellent alternative option for restoring endodontically treated teeth versus metal posts.12,49,62 Studies found fiber-reinforced post systems to be superior to metal prefabricated posts.63 In recent years, there has been a major shift away from metal custom cast posts and cores toward prefabricated metal posts and resin-based composite cores, including a significant movement toward the use of fiber-reinforced resin-based composite posts used with bonded composite buildups.49,64-66 Prefabricated composite post systems are replacing metal post systems because an adhesive procedure with the fiber-reinforced composite post system adds strength to the tooth-restorative interface after bonding.67 Therefore, the fiber-reinforced post has an advantage after assembly by creating a monoblock system.

Direct Fiber-Reinforced Post and Core System

This composite post and core system offers several advantages: a one-appointment technique; no laboratory fees; resistance to corrosion, solubility, and biochemical degradation; reduced root fracture; atraumatic retrievability; and increased retention resulting from microretentive bonding surfaces.5,61,68 It also conserves tooth structure and yields biomechanical properties similar to those of the host dental tissue and has no negative effect on esthetics.5,61,67,69,70 Disadvantages of the technique include technique sensitivity and the need for a careful adhesive protocol and larger inventory of reinforcement materials.5

Several methods are used for the fabrication of the direct fiber-reinforced resin post system, including a custom-made glass fiber post system, which uses a polyethylene woven reinforcement fiber; a prefabricated fiber-reinforced composite post; a direct anatomical formed fiber-reinforced post; and a direct/indirect anatomical formed fiber-reinforced post. Prefabricated fiber-reinforced resin posts flex with the tooth structure, are easy to remove if retreatment is required, and have no negative effects on esthetics. However, the adaptation of the prefabricated post to the canal wall is important for retention, and in some cases the canal must be enlarged to fit the configuration of the selected post, requiring removal of more tooth structure to achieve optimal adaptation. Therefore, these prefabricated posts have optimal adaptation and function in teeth with small circular canals.71 Many roots, however, have irregularly shaped canals, and the prefabricated system is not ideal because of the improper adaptation and the required thickness of the resin cement. This increased cement layer thickness can influence the stress distribution on the restorative assembly and increase the potential risk for the loss of post retention.72 Prospective and retrospective clinical studies have indicated that fiber post dislodgment occurs with greater frequency with thicker cement layers.25,73,74 The thinner the joint, the greater the strength. Also, there is indication that a thin layer of resin cement provides frictional retention of the post.42,75

Various methods can be utilized for the treatment of irregular configurations (eg, oval shape, flared roots), including a custom-made glass fiber post system that uses a bondable reinforcement fiber (eg, Ribbond®-THM, Ribbond; Construct, Kerr Endodontics; everStick®, GC America), a direct anatomical formed fiber-reinforced post system that uses a resin composite to modify the shape of the prefabricated post (Figure 6 and Figure 7),49,76 and a direct/indirect anatomical formed fiber-reinforced post system that entails use of a pattern resin to replicate the anatomical configuration of the post channel that can be translated with flowable resin composite in the laboratory or chairside (Figure 8 through Figure 10). Other methods suggested in the literature for reducing the thickness of the cement layer include root reinforcement with a composite material, the use of accessory fiber posts, or the use of an ovoid-shaped post system (eg, Macro-Lock Oval Post, RTD; Polygon Post, Overfibers; Ellipson Post, Acteon/Salitec).77,78

Empirical Data

Most clinical failures involving fiber-reinforced post systems occur through debonding.8,20,24,26,79,80 Clinicians must avoid performing outdated procedures with modern restorative materials when restoring intraradicular post space. It has been reported that bond strengths in different areas of the post channel can be influenced by technique and dentin microanatomy.81 Challenges related to this issue include insufficient light energy being transmitted to the cement at the apical third of the channel,82 the concentration of the dentin tubules that greatly decreases toward the apical region,83 the fact that radicular dentin is irregular and may be void of dentin tubules,83 and the operator applying different conditioners, bonding agents, and cements to these areas in unfavorable conditions.

Evidence suggests that light transmission of translucent fiber post systems may be inadequate; as such, the light intensity of curing units decreases from the coronal to the apical of the post channel for these fiber post systems, and the amount of light reaching the apical third of the post spaces may be insufficient to effectively cure the resin cement.12,68,84 Therefore, light-cured resin cements are not adequate for luting posts.68,85 While one study has reported a fiber-optic post system that had significantly greater light transmission with a light-polymerized resin cement,86 other studies have documented inferior bonding performance of the post channel in apical regions with the use of light-cured adhesives.87,88 Additionally, research has demonstrated that the autopolymerizing potential of dual-cured cements alone is not sufficient to achieve maximum hardness of the cement.89,90 Also, it has been reported that in the presence of translucent posts, the amount of light reaching the apical third of the post channel may be insufficient to effectively cure the resin cement.84 Some specific translucent fiber posts diminish light transmission more than other posts,84,86 and with these translucent posts, the transmission of applied light can be reduced to less than 40%, which can decrease the polymerization of the resin cement.86,91 These differences in light transmission among post systems can be correlated to the variations that exist in their fiber diameter, orientation pattern, and matrix. Furthermore, when light is transmitted through the channel post space, its intensity is significantly diminished as it passes through the resin cement because of attenuation and the shadowing caused by the tooth structure and the post.86,92 However, light intensity reaching the cement may be sufficient to initiate the polymerization process, while the self-curing catalyst is required to ensure maximum degree of cure.89 Nonetheless, dual-cured and self-cured resin cements are recommended because of the light attenuation at the increased depths of the post channel.86,93

No differences have been demonstrated in bonding effectiveness of translucent posts and light-cured or dual-cured composites.86,94 Some clinicians purport the use of dual-cured resin cements with etch-and-rinse adhesives as an excellent restorative choice,20,68 whereas current evidence suggests that for fiber post cementation the most reliable results are achieved with etch-and-rinse adhesives in combination with dual-cured resin cements.12,20,95 Furthermore, studies indicate etch-and-rinse adhesive systems combined with self- or dual-cured resin cements are used more often than self-etching systems to cement fiber posts.26,96 Another systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro literature reported superior retention of fiber posts to dentin with the use of self-adhesive resin cement.97 This same review indicated that the use of self-adhesive resin cements may improve bond strength of fiber posts to the post channel dentin,97 and this same cement demonstrated less nano­leakage compared to multi-step resin cements when fiber posts were luted to the post channel dentin.98 Another study indicated that the performance of a self-adhesive resin cement along the post channel was similar to that of self-cured resin cements and demonstrated that these materials appear to be less dependent on light irradiation to achieve high bond strength.99 Also, there is evidence that suggests that fiber post bonding is more reliable when utilizing self-adhesive cements due to the multiple steps and difficulty in reaching the apex of the post space.100 Furthermore, several studies reported that use of resin cement or self-adhesive resin cement resulted in increased bond strength between the fiber post and post channel dentin and improved the fracture resistance of the endodontically treated tooth.101,102 Thus, it is well established that the luting procedure plays a significant role in the clinical performance of the restoration of an endodontically treated tooth, and the use of a resin luting cement to line and strengthen the canal walls actually reinforces the root and supports the tooth-restorative complex.37,103

Click here for Part 2 of this article, which describes a novel concept for developing a precise, predictable post and core complex using the injectable resin method and a newly developed fiber-optic post system.

About the Authors

Douglas A. Terry, DDS
Adjunct Professor, Department of Restorative Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Professor Emeritus, Department of Restorative and Esthetic Dentistry, V.S. Dental College and Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India; Founder and CEO, Institute of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry; Private Practice, Houston, Texas

John O. Burgess, DDS, MS
Director of Clinical Research, Clinical Research Professor, School of Dentistry, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana; Diplomate, Federal Services Board of General Dentistry

John M. Powers, PhD
Professor Emeritus, UTHealth School of Dentistry, Houston, Texas

Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD
Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Chair, Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, and Assistant Dean, Digital Innovation and Professional Development, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Queries to the author regarding this course may be submitted to authorqueries@broadcastmed.com.

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Fig 1. Root perforation caused by improper preparation and placement of an oversized post (dentistry courtesy of Riccardo Tonini, MD, DDS).

Figure 1

Fig 2. Improper metal post placement/perforation (dentistry courtesy of Riccardo Tonini, MD, DDS).

Figure 2

Fig 3. Occlusal forces were transmitted through the metal post in the mandibular right canine, and stress concentrations were focused in the mesial aspect of the apical one-third of the root, resulting in a horizontal fracture.

Figure 3

Fig 4. A maxillary right central incisor was restored with a cast-metal post, which can result in discoloration and shadowing of the gingiva and cervical aspect of the tooth. The incidental light was completely blocked by the metal post and underlying metal framework of the crown, which caused a characteristic shadow at the submarginal zone.

Figure 4

Fig 5. Root fracture occurred in this maxillary premolar as a result of corrosion of a non-noble metal alloy post.

Figure 5

Fig 6. After a dual-cured composite resin cement is injected into the post channel, the reinforcement fiber is placed to the base of the post channel, and the ends of the fiber are folded back into the channel and arranged into the desired shape of the core and light-cured for 60 seconds (Fig 6). A dual-cured or light-cured composite is injected over the coronal fibers, and the composite material is adapted, sculpted, and smoothed with a No. 2 sable brush into the desired form and dimension of an ideal preparation (Fig 7).

Figure 6

Fig 7. After a dual-cured composite resin cement is injected into the post channel, the reinforcement fiber is placed to the base of the post channel, and the ends of the fiber are folded back into the channel and arranged into the desired shape of the core and light-cured for 60 seconds (Fig 6). A dual-cured or light-cured composite is injected over the coronal fibers, and the composite material is adapted, sculpted, and smoothed with a No. 2 sable brush into the desired form and dimension of an ideal preparation (Fig 7).

Figure 7

Fig 8. A resin pattern was formed by placing an acrylic resin into the post channel and onto the fiber post and was allowed to set. It is important to remove and reinsert the resin after the initial setting to ensure proper adaptation without restriction from undercuts, which can result in the inability to remove the post assembly or potential distortion.

Figure 8

Fig 9. A clear polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) material was injected into a plastic tubular container, and the post assembly was submerged into the material. The container was placed into a pressure pot with cold water for 5 minutes, as shown in Fig 10. This procedure reduces the potential for the formation of voids and bubbles in the impression material. A slit was made in the top of the PVS material with a scalpel blade (#15 disposable scalpel), and the post assembly was carefully removed.

Figure 9

Fig 10. A translucent shaded flowable resin composite was injected into the matrix, and the fiber post was then inserted into the material until it reached the base of the post space. The resin composite was cured through the clear matrix from all sides for 40 seconds each.

Figure 10

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SOURCE: Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry | March 2024

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the history of post and core systems and the advancements that have been made in recent decades
  • Describe various methods for the fabrication of a direct fiber-reinforced resin post system
  • Explain some of the challenges encountered with fiber-reinforced post systems

Disclosures:

The author reports no conflicts of interest associated with this work.

Queries for the author may be directed to justin.romano@broadcastmed.com.