Restorative and endodontic results after treatment with cast posts and cores

Sixty-nine patients who received cast posts and cores in 1978 at the Students' Clinic at the Faculty of Odontology, University of Umeå were recalled for examination in 1984. Fifty-three or 76.8% of the patients with 96 posts and cores or 73.3% of the original 131 attended. Of the 96 posts and cores, nine, corresponding to a failure rate of 1.56% per year, were classified as unsuccessful, which compared favorably with previous studies. Various criteria parameters were reviewed for possible correlations to the failures but the only common factor was that the nine failures were located in jaws occluding against a natural dentition. The endodontic failures noted could not be related to the prosthodontic treatment. Another conclusion from this study is that the conventional design of the cast post and core can be strongly recommended.