[Amalgam build-up for endodontically treated posterior teeth with intraradicular extension]

Prosthetic treatment of endodontically treated teeth usually involves the use of pins, prefabricated or cast posts that basically aim to protect the tooth from horizontal or vertical fractures. Nevertheless, according to the current way of thinking, the most important factors against tooth fractures are the preservation of as much as possible sound tooth structure as well as the use of full coverage. The amalgam coronal-radicular dowel and core technique is described in this paper. The method has been tested successfully in recent studies, both in vitro and in vivo. Its advantages are that it requires less sound tooth structure removal, involves uniform material for both the dowel and the core, is accomplished in a single chair side session and can be easily removed. It can accordingly be used as a complete crown build up in cases where prosthetic treatment has to be postponed for various reasons.