Adhesive monoblock restorations in root canal treated teeth – fiction or reality?

The escalation and spread of adhesive dentistry exercised effect on the restorative treatment of root canal treated teeth. The usage of carbon and metal posts was replaced for fiber reinforced composite post in most practices.

Although even this development could not insure the long desired reinforcement for endodontically treated teeth. The results we receive not only from the dentists from their daily practice, but also from the scientific studies are controversial regarding the success of these modern posts. The reason behind this is partly mishandling by the operator, and partly the unique environment formed inside the root canal itself. Simultaneously with this, many practitioners still rely on their experience with cast post and cores and continue their usage, which is considered to be too invasive by many. Still there is a continuous shifting towards adhesive solutions and attempts trying to improve the previous techniques and reinforce the treated teeth. As it was concluded many times in the last 20 years, the optimal solution is again within the biomechanical and biomimetic analysis of the tooth and subsequent material choice based upon it. Albeit in case of the root canal environment it is not enough the choose the material rightly, but one has to take into account the forces generated in the specific group of teeth and in the restorative material during the masticatory functions. In order to be able to improve the previous far not perfect techniques we must be aware of the shortcomings and deficiencies inherent in each of them.

The lecture is trying to provide a guideline for different cases, to be able to choose the adequate technique for each of them and also showing how to optimize each technique in order to make them easy and feasible for everyday practice.

Learning objectives

• Identifying the current problems with normal FRC post placement
• Learning how to fabricate an individual FRC post chairside
• Learning how to make a monoblock biomimetic restoration in root canals
• Setting the indications of each proposed technique