Radiographic appearance of titanium posts in endodontically treated teeth

Titanium and titanium alloy posts are currently being used in complex dental restorations. Titanium posts have been shown to be less radiopaque than stainless steel and to have a radiographic density similar to gutta-percha. This radiographic similarity can make detection of a titanium post difficult. Failure to identify the presence of a titanium post before the initiation of retreatment could cause significant complications for the treating endodontist. Five cases are presented to describe the radiographic subtleties that can be used to detect the presence of a titanium post.