It can sometimes be difficult to make sense of all the different dental terms. Many patients are unaware of the difference between “dental implant” and “prefabricated post.”
A dental implant is a structure that replaces the root of a missing natural tooth. The implant is actually a small titanium screw installed in the bone directly beneath where the missing tooth used to be. This titanium implant fuses perfectly to bone tissue and behaves exactly like the root of a natural tooth. It may take one or several implants to fully restore a tooth (e.g. crown, bridge, complete prosthesis).
A prefabricated post is a metal pin placed in the root of a tooth that is healthy enough to hold it. The natural tooth’s root is preserved. A crown or bridge is always affixed to the post. Posts are recommended when a root canal has been performed and not enough natural tooth remains to support a restoration. To better understand the role of a prefabricated post, please watch our educational video on the subject:
The prefabricated post – Lapointe dental centres – YouTube
Your dental professional is the best suited to determine which treatment is most appropriate for you. Schedule an appointment at one of our dental centres to learn about all of the options available.
