When a pin is not needed
If two or three tooth walls with a height of at least 2 mm are preserved, the composite is reliably held due to adhesion to dentin, and additional support in the canal is not required. This option is preferable: the canal is not weakened, and the risk of root splitting is minimal. The doctor restores the stump taking into account the future crown - with the required cone and height.
What is tooth restoration
Restoration is the restoration of the shape, function and appearance of a tooth using composite materials directly in the oral cavity, in one visit. Unlike a crown, it does not require grinding of the entire tooth and preserves a maximum of its own tissues.
A separate task is the restoration of the stump: when only the walls or the root remain of the tooth, the doctor creates a foundation on which a crown is subsequently placed.
How to restore the stump
- composite without support - when strong tooth walls are preserved
- anchor pin with composite - a metal pin in the channel as a support
- fiberglass pin with composite - elasticity is close to the tooth tissue, the risk of root splitting is lower
- cast stump inlay - in case of significant destruction, manufactured in the laboratory
Materials
Light-curing composites provide better aesthetics and strength, while glass ionomer cements provide chemical adhesion to dentin and fluoride release. Glass ionomer is often used as a spacer under a composite, for cervical defects and in pediatric practice.