Dental News

What exactly is a post and crown buildup?

August 2, 2019

What exactly is a post and crown buildup?

Restoring a decayed tooth with crowns are standard dental restoration procedures. A dental crown may be recommended by a dentist when a tooth breaks, weakened by decay, or has large dental fillings. Dental crowns are fixed restorative prosthetics use to restore the function of a damaged tooth to its original shape and size. When placed on a tooth, the crown completely encases the outer surface of the tooth and is situated above the gum line. However, to properly sit a crown, your dentist will often tell you that a post or core buildup will be necessary. When a tooth is severely decayed or have very little structure, the remaining tooth can be too small to support a dental crown. This is an indication that a post or core buildup is required. Both procedures buildup the tooth structure for a crown. However, a post and core buildup and a core buildup differ slightly in the material needed to build up the tooth.

What is involved in a post and core buildup?

If your dentist recommends a post and a core buildup, small rods often made of metal are inserted into the root space of the tooth. The small rods are used to hold the core filling in place. The rods strengthen the core filling by providing enough structure to hold the filling. Post rods are often placed after a tooth has had a root canal.

Before getting a post and build up or just a buildup, the dentist will generally anesthetize the area surrounding the tooth to reduce pain during the procedure. The dentist will remove any decay and prepare the tooth for bonding by etching the remaining tooth surfaces with a mild acid. Acid etching helps the core filling bond to the remaining tooth structure. A core buildup is made directly on the tooth from materials made from dental composite resins. The dental composite resin is carefully selected to match the natural color of the tooth. The core buildup can be shaped just like your natural tooth it replaces. Often this is done so that your dentist can evaluate the tooth overtime or additional treatment is required before a crown can be placed. Alternatively, if a post is not needed, a core buildup may be the only procedure required to sit a crown. Both methods will yield the same result. The purpose of a buildup is to restore the tooth structure to create surface support for the crown.

Be sure to contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to schedule your next appointment.

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