Prefabricated post-and-core systems: an overview.

Restorative dentists should have a working knowledge of more than one post-and-core system. This review is designed to encourage them to consider systems they might not have considered otherwise. Many restorative dentists learn to use one prefabricated post-and core system, and they have only one system on hand. When the system on hand is the solution, there is no need for an alternative. However, no single prefabricated post-and-core system can fit all endodontic restorative requirements. The best way to pick an optimum system design is to compare alternatives. The vast assortment of available system components, many supported solely by experimental data without direct clinical corroboration, makes comparison and selection a challenging process.