page_title: Post and core
section_title: Prefabricated post
hierarchical_section_title: Post and core / Types / Prefabricated post
caption_attribution_description: Maxillary posterior teeth restored with prefabricated screw posts.
context_page_description: A post and core crown is a type of dental restoration required where there is an inadequate amount of sound tooth tissue remaining to retain a conventional crown. A post is cemented into a prepared root canal, which retains a core restoration, which retains the final crown.
  The role of the post is firstly to retain a core restoration and crown, and secondly to redistribute stresses down onto the root, thereby reducing the risk of coronal fracture. The post does not play any role in reinforcing or supporting the tooth and can in fact make it more likely to fracture at the root.
  When deciding whether or not a tooth requires a post and core crown rather than a conventional crown, the following must be established:
  Presence of an adequate ferrule
  Sufficient length of canal to retain a post
  Curvature and overall anatomy of root canal system
  Sufficient root dentine thickness for post preparation
  Restorability of tooth
  The benefit of placing a post into a root canal is improved retention of the crown.
context_section_description: Prefabricated post and cores take less time to place, as they do not involve any lab work and can be inserted immediately upon the decision to utilize them, once the endodontic therapy has been completed and the post space cleared of gutta percha. After the prefabricated post is properly cemented into the post space, a core material, such as dental composite, can be packed around the cemented post. After the material has been cured or has had a chance to set and properly formed into a crown preparation, an impression can be taken for the fabrication of a prosthetic crown.
  Metal prefabricated post systems are being superseded by fibre-reinforced composite resin post systems which offer improved resistance to untreatable fracture of tooth substrate such as vertical root fracture.
caption: Maxillary posterior teeth restored with prefabricated screw posts
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