Just like a post you place when building a fence, a dental post is intended to keep something stable and in place—in this case, a tooth. From a basic description, you might think a dental post and a dental implant are the same thing. In fact, they are quite different.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that serves as the foundation for a fake tooth crown or dentures. A dental post is added to an existing tooth that is still in place but needs to be reinforced.

Dentists use a dental post to help stabilize and secure a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment: “endo” means inside, “dont” means tooth). The root canal is the tube inside your tooth that contains all the tissues that nourish your teeth. If these tissues become damaged or infected, you will need root canal therapy to clear out the bad tissues and seal the canal back up again.

In some cases, in addition to infection in the root canal, there is decay (big cavities) in the outer structure of the tooth that needs to be removed. After the decayed parts of the tooth is removed, there sometimes isn’t enough tooth structure left to keep the tooth stable. In this case, the dentist will install an artificial post to connect the tooth with the remaining tooth root that is embedded in your gums and jaw. This additional reinforcement helps make the tooth and any fillings sturdy so they function like a healthy tooth again.

Dental posts are made from either titanium, titanium alloy, or composite materials. Today, fiber-reinforced resin-based composite posts are the most common. Sometimes, depending on the size and condition, the dentist may place more than one post in a tooth (for example, in a molar). Dental posts are not used in all root canal or endodontic treatments, and there are very specific clinical reasons for choosing to place a dental post that your dentist will consider carefully when planning your procedure. If your endodontic treatment will involve the placement of a post, your dentist will review this with you when you go over what your treatment will entail.

Root canals have earned a bad reputation. This procedure has become the butt of jokes on TV shows & in games of “Would You Rather”. It has also become the subject of an unusual amount of anxiety because patients expect the procedure to be painful, despite recent advancements that ensure this isn’t the case. But from a health perspective, root canals are heroic: they are a life-saving procedure for your tooth!

Each of your teeth has a hollow space inside it, which includes a pulp chamber & root canals. These interior chambers are filled with tooth pulp, which consists of connective tissues, nerves & blood vessels that nourished your tooth from the inside during development. Your dentist will perform a root canal procedure when the pulp becomes compromised.

Situations that can lead to the need for treatment include deep decay (i.e. a really bad cavity), a cracked tooth & repeated dental procedures. It is important to note that even an injured tooth that has no outward signs of damage can still have damaged pulp. The root canal procedure consists of removing the infected pulp & then cleaning & resealing the pulp chamber.

Modern advancements in root canal procedures & anesthesia have made the root canal’s painful reputation a thing of the past. The root canal procedure is performed under a local anesthetic, meaning you won’t be able to feel it.

Left untreated, damage or infection in the root canal could mean the loss of a tooth, not to mention pain & swelling in the meantime. But an infected tooth that has been treated with a root canal procedure should last a lifetime.

If you’ve been told you need a root canal treatment, you may have also heard the term “endodontist”. An endodontist is a dentist who specializing in treating the interior structures of your teeth, & thus can be thought of as a root canal specialist. If your dentist has determined you need a root canal, he or she may refer you to an endodontist for the procedure.

No matter what you’ve heard about root canals in the past, we know you’d probably prefer getting this routine procedure than enduring a toothache & possibly having your tooth removed. There’s no reason to fear root canal treatment!