A retrospective study of pre-fabricated carbon fibre root canal posts

summary Although pre‐fabricated carbon fibre posts have been used during the past decade clinical evaluations of the technique are still few. Using dental records and radiographs the clinical performance of 65 pre‐fabricated carbon fibre posts (Composipost and Endopost) placed in 48 patients who regularly visited a general practice were evaluated in the present study. After an average time of 2.3 ± 0·8 years (median 2·1 years, range 1–4·9 years) of clinical service the failure rate was 3%. Failure occurred in one tooth with a single crown restoration and in one tooth that was part of a cantilever fixed partial denture. Although the failure rate is lower than those mostly reported for metallic posts and cores more clinical studies are necessary to assess the suitability of pre‐fabricated carbon fibre posts for routine use as an alternative to individually cast posts.