A clinical report of 85 fractured metallic post-retained crowns

To determine any patient, technique or material factors that were significantly associated with post fracture in metallic post systems.

Eighty-five fractured metal posts were retrieved over a 5-year period from a total of 84 patients who attended a dental hospital for treatment. A record was kept of the patient's dentition to identify the tooth with the fractured post, the number of teeth present, the excursive guidance scheme and the likely post design and material. Radiographs of 67 of these teeth were available. The presence or absence of a periapical lesion was noted as was the quality of the root filling. Maxillary lateral incisors, followed by maxillary centrals were associated with most of the fractured posts. The median survival to fracture was 36 months. The number of teeth in the dentition had a mode of 28. The most commonly fractured post design was a serrated and parallel design with an average diameter of 1.2 mm at the site of fracture. Apical lesions were found in 67% of the teeth with radiographs. Only 12% of teeth with a 'good' apical filling as opposed to 55% with a 'poor' apical filling had apical lesions.

. Maxillary lateral incisors, followed by maxillary central incisors are at greatest risk of having a fractured metallic post. . Having a large number of teeth in the dentition or an adequate length of post was not protective against metallic post fracture. . Teeth with fractured post-retained crowns had a high incidence of apical lesions.