This invention relates to a dental post, and more particularly to a helically fluted post which can be securely inserted within a tooth stub to extend upwardly therefrom for retention of a dental restoration placed on top of the tooth stub.
One dental procedure for restoring broken teeth involves the utilization of a dental post to function as the retainer for a dental prosthetic structure which is built onto the broken tooth. The damaged or broken tooth is generally required to be cut down to provide a proper tooth stub. A bore is formed into the stub in which is inserted a holding device, such as a dental post. The dental post is retained in the bore by means of suitable dental cement well known in the dental art. A portion of the dental post extends upwardly above the surface of the tooth stub. The dental prosthetic structure, such as a false tooth, crown, or the like, is then formed or mounted onto the tooth stub, being retained thereon by means of the post.
Numerous dental posts have been suggested in the prior art. On some posts, there is provided an external thread to provide additional surface area in which the cement is received so as to improve the retention of the post within the tooth stub. A vent is also provided on the post to permit escape of the air during insertion of the post into the cement prepared bore of the tooth stub.
While prior art dental posts have generally been quite useful, they frequently are pushed out during the initial insertion into the bore as a result of the hydrostatic pressure caused by the cement. The posts, therefore may not be fully seated in the bore.
Additionally, though the threads formed on the prior art posts aid in the retention, at the same, the threads reduce the diameter which increases the risk of fracture, both during insertion and actual utilization of the post.