Evaluation of a half-digital technique for fabricating customized post-cores: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Conventional post-core fabrication methods have limitations.
• Current half-digital techniques do not fully account for occlusal impacts on digital design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a novel half-digital workflow for post-core fabrication.
• To assess the accuracy of post-cores fabricated using an integrated intracanal impression and dentition scanning approach.

Main Methods:

• Standardized extracted teeth (incisor, premolar, molar) were prepared.
• Post-cores were fabricated using both the novel half-digital technique and conventional methods.
• Microcomputed tomography was used to scan specimens, and quantitative analysis of space between post and canal wall was performed.

Main Results:

• The half-digital technique demonstrated significantly smaller volume of overall space (VOS) and apical gap (AG) compared to the conventional technique.
• Significant differences were observed in section B of all teeth, indicating better adaptation.
• No significant differences were found in sections A and C.

Conclusions:

• The investigated half-digital workflow yields more accurate customized post-cores than conventional techniques.
• This workflow offers a promising alternative for improved post-core restorations.