What is a root-canal post?
A dental post is placed inside a prepared root canal of a root-canal-treated tooth. The natural root therefore remains in the jaw. The post can retain a core when too little tooth tissue remains to hold that core reliably.
Dental post or implant?
Root-canal postDental implant
Natural root Still present.No longer present at that site.
Location Inside the treated natural root canal.In the jawbone at a missing-tooth site.
Purpose Retains a core and often supports a crown.Supports a replacement crown, bridge or denture.
On an X-ray Metal or fibre lies within the outline of the natural root.The implant appears as a separate artificial root in bone.
A post does not automatically strengthen a tooth
Its main purpose is retention: holding a core when there is not enough remaining tooth tissue. Professional treatment standards advise using a post only when needed for core retention, because preparing the root also carries risks.
Why patients confuse posts and implants
Both may be metallic and both may sit underneath a crown. The decisive difference is the natural root: a post is inside a retained tooth root; an implant replaces a missing root in the jawbone.
Questions for the conversation
- Is my natural root still present?
- Is this a post and core, or an implant with an abutment?
- Why is added retention needed?
- Which restoration will be placed above the post?
Sources
Traceable external sources
