Vacuum-formed matrix as a guide for the fabrication of multiple direct patterns for cast posts and cores

Fabrication of multiple posts and cores for severely damaged pulpless teeth is arduous because few landmarks remain. Esthetic requirements, occlusal relations, and long axes of the planned final restorations influence the core design. This article describes a method for directly verifying fabricated post-and-core patterns by combining the procedures for making a thermoformed shell for a preparation template and creating a plastic template for multiple core pattern fabrication.