Dental pivot
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January 1, 2024Find out everything you need to know
What is a dental post?
A dental pivot is a prosthetic device designed to provide stability to a natural tooth that has suffered dental trauma, an infection, or has been severely damaged by deep decay. The dental post replaces a tooth whose root is strong enough to support a rod, usually made of metal or fibreglass, onto which a dental crown is then fitted.
Types of dental implants:
- Metal dental post;
- Fibreglass dental post;
- Dental post made in the dental laboratory.
Because it provides superior aesthetics, closer to the shade of the natural tooth, dentists recommend the fibreglass post.
The dental post is an essential component for restoring a natural tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment and has become fragile and brittle. It is the component onto which the dental crown is fitted.
The type of dental procedure used to reconstruct a severely damaged tooth with the aid of a dental post is known as crown-root reconstruction.
Treatment using a dental pivot can be carried out in two ways:
- A single-piece restoration that is fitted into the tooth root;
- Consisting of two parts: the post, followed by the ceramic or zirconia dental crown. This technique is more highly recommended, as the system better absorbs the mechanical forces of chewing.
When is a dental implant needed?
A dental post is fitted when the natural tooth is so badly damaged that its visible part, the crown, can no longer be restored with a simple inlay or onlay. It is therefore necessary to use a dental post to support the new dental crown. The main indications for a dental post and a crown, in general, are:
- Trauma or a dental fracture too severe for any other reconstructive treatment;
- Advanced dental caries;
- Significant tooth wear;
- Severe discolouration;
- Severe malposition of the tooth.
What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that cover the upper part of the tooth to restore its original shape and give it the appearance of a natural tooth. They can be built up on the remaining tooth structure (following preparation) or attached to a metal or fibreglass post: the dental post. In the latter case, the crown is not cemented, but cemented onto the dental post in the tooth root.
There are several types of dental crowns depending on the indication, but also depending on the aesthetic and cost considerations desired by the patient.
A mixed dental crown combines two materials: a metal alloy and ceramic. In vestibular crowns (VIC), the buccal surface is covered with ceramic. In metal-ceramic crowns, the ceramic completely covers the surface of the tooth.
As the name suggests, a ceramic crown is made entirely of ceramic material and is, in fact, very durable. A ceramic dental crown is the most aesthetic option but also comes at a higher cost. However, aesthetics is not the only criterion; the dental crown must meet the needs of the oral cavity. Metal restorations are still widely used despite their unaesthetic appearance, but their mechanical properties are also limited.
How dental implant treatment works
When a tooth is severely damaged, either due to tooth decay or a severe injury, it is often root-treated to stop the infection from spreading and to eliminate any sensitivity in the tooth. This essentially involves removing the nerves and blood vessels from the infected tooth and sealing the root canals.
If the tooth is only partially damaged, it is ground down to a normal shape; an impression is taken and a dental crown is cemented in place.
If the tooth is too structurally damaged, it is necessary to anchor one or two dental posts to the root to stabilise the future dental crown. Two visits to the dentist are required to complete the treatment.
The difference between a dental bridge and a dental implant
It can sometimes be difficult for patients to understand the meaning of all the different dental terms. That is why many people do not know the difference between a ‘dental implant’ and a ‘dental post’.
A dental implant is a structure that replaces the root of a missing natural tooth. The implant is actually a small titanium or ceramic screw inserted into the bone directly where the missing tooth used to be. This dental implant fuses perfectly with the bone tissue and behaves exactly like the root of a natural tooth.
A prefabricated dental post, or one made in the ASPEN dental laboratory, is a fibreglass pin placed in the root of a tooth that is healthy enough to support it. The root of the natural tooth is thus preserved. A dental crown is always fixed onto the dental post after root canal treatment or root canal therapy has been carried out.
Your dentist is the only person who can determine which treatment is best for you. Book an appointment at one of our dental centres to find out about all the options available.
