From Volume 41, Issue 5, June 2014 | Pages 386-394
Failure of a post-retained restoration can provide a challenge to the general dental practitioner (GDP) in terms of diagnosis, treatment planning and communication with the patient. The cause of failure must be identified, and a thorough assessment of the restoration, remaining tooth and its functional and aesthetic demands carried out in order to plan treatment to provide the most reliable result.
Posts provide a means of anchoring the core in endodontically treated teeth where there is inadequate coronal tooth structure to provide retention and support for the restoration.1 It was originally thought that the placement of a post strengthened the endodontically treated tooth; this is now known not to be the case: indeed, preparation for a post weakens the tooth.1,2 The use of active, threaded posts, such as the Dentatus screw, is associated with increased stresses and root fracture,3 particularly with a tapered design where there is an additional ‘wedging’ effect into the post space.
The failing post-retained crown can present a real challenge to the dental practitioner, and the decision as to whether to attempt re-restoration is not always straightforward. This article aims to discuss common reasons for failure of the post-retained crown and the factors which must be considered prior to treatment planning.
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