Post and Core Treatment for Tooth Decay

A look at what post and core treatments are and how to care for your teeth afterward.

One could argue that the world is divided into two camps. Those who have fantastic teeth, and those who are not so lucky.

Those with fantastic teeth usually can get though life giving their teeth just the basics is care. Those who aren’t so lucky may have to endure treatment after treatment to stave of a life of pains, stains and cavities. Those who have bad teeth or those that neglect their oral hygiene very often under go a treatment known as a root canal. This is where the pulp of the tooth has become so badly infected that it is beyond saving. Rather than letting it spread to neighboring teeth, or extracting the tooth out, the procedure is done.

Root Canals are far from being the horrid, painful experiences that they one were. The patient is usually numbed and the worst of it is over in about an hour. Restoring the tooth to its former glory is the harder part. Many times the teeth need what is called post and core treatment before permanent crowns can be fixed.

Not all teeth that undergo root canals need post and core treatment. However, it is quite commonly associated with this procedure due to the amount of advanced decay present. Many times when a tooth undergoes a root canal, a large portion of the top has been rotted away. If too much of the tooth above the gum line is gone then it will be impossible to fit the permanent crown properly. This is where the post and core treatment comes in.

Post and core treatment work to strengthen the tooth after the root canal procedure. The post is actually a small metal rod. When one has a root canal, the roots where the nerves and blood vessels lie are taken out. They are replaced by cement filler. If your dentist decides that post and core treatment is needed, some of this filler will be removed and replaced by the metal rods.

These will act as an anchor to help hold the tooth in place. Remember, there is no blood circulating through the tooth after a root canal. If the decay was advanced enough it could affect the foundation and stability of the tooth.

The next part of the procedure is the core. It is made from building material and starts from the end of the metal post. The idea of the core is to help anchor the crown onto the top of the tooth. Again, if too much decay occurred before the root canal treatment then the crown will have a hard time staying in place.

Once the core of the tooth has been made, an impression of the tooth is sent off to a lab so the crown can be made. Once the crown is ready, it can be fixed to the tooth.

The post and core treatments may sound horrible but they are quite pain free. They occur after a root canal in which the tooth has no nerve. There may be some minor discomfort afterward but nothing that cannot be taken care of by over the counter medication.

The post and core procedure provided some advantages. It allows someone with a severally decayed tooth to have it fully restored. It also allows for a solid crown to be put in place adding strength and appearance to a once doomed tooth.

After the post and core treatment as well as after the crown is fixed it is important to retain good oral hygiene practices. Even though the crowns are permanent and they are held in place with reinforcements, avoid chewing sticky foods like gum and caramel. These can attach themselves to the crown and force it loose. It will take some doing but it is possible. You should also avoid biting down onto hard foods. Candies and ice are some of the worst offenders. These can gradually wear away and damage the crown. Brushing, flossing and regularly visiting the dentist are also needed. Even though your tooth won’t feel it, decay and cavities can still form. The remainder of the tooth could rot away and it could affect other teeth. Even though the procedure is relatively painless it isn’t something you really want to go through again.

Some of us are blessed with great teeth while others are not so lucky. Those that make up the latter quite often have to have some evasive dental treatments. Root canals are quite common today. Many root canals are followed by a post and core treatment to help reinforce the tooth. Neither of these treatments sounds pleasant. However, they are not painful and present a good alternative to living with decayed and misshapen teeth.

Post and Core Treatments