A retrospective study of pre-fabricated carbon fibre root canal posts

Although pre-fabricated carbon fibre posts have been used during the past decade clinical evaluations of the technique are still few. Using dental records and radiographs the clinical performance of 65 pre-fabricated carbon fibre posts (Composipost and Endopost) placed in 48 patients who regularly visited a general practice were evaluated in the present study. After an average time of 2.3 +/- 0.8 years (median 2.1 years, range 1-4.9 years) of clinical service the failure rate was 3%. Failure occurred in one tooth with a single crown restoration and in one tooth that was part of a cantilever fixed partial denture. Although the failure rate is lower than those mostly reported for metallic posts and cores more clinical studies are necessary to assess the suitability of pre-fabricated carbon fibre posts for routine use as an alternative to individually cast posts.