Dental Health Topics

Prefabricated Cast Post and Core In Addition To Crown - Dental Procedure Code Description

A “post and core” is a one-piece prosthetic that resembles the main body of the tooth's structure atop a metal post. In cases where a tooth is severely damaged due to decay or fracture, and the secure placement of a crown is not immediately possible, this prosthetic enables future placement by recreating the core of the tooth. 
 
This dental procedure code represents a single aspect of what is typically a three part process that first involves a root canal procedure, then the creation and installation of the “post and core,” and concludes with the installation of a prosthetic crown.
 
Once your root canal has healed and is ready for more work, the next step would involve clearing out some of the filling used in the canals to make room for the post, or posts.  In a pre-fabricated post and core procedure, an “off the shelf” post made of fiberglass, stainless steel, or titanium is placed into this cleared area of the root, and serves as the base and stabilizer for the future crown.  Today, some dental offices are replacing prefabricated metal post systems with those made of fibre-reinforced composite resin because they are more effective in reducing the chances of future tooth fracture.
 
After the posts have been placed, an impression would be made of both the inner and outer portions of the tooth, and the mold sent off to a dental laboratory to make the crown.  Until the time it arrives, you may be fitted with a temporary crown to cover the area and provide aesthetic benefit.

To look up and find more cdt dental codes from the American Dental Association, please visit our complete Dental Procedure Code Library.