Metal Posts

Metal Posts

A metal post is a prefabricated stainless steel or titanium rod fixed into a root canal after root canal treatment. When a tooth has lost most of its crown, the post anchors into the root, a core is built on it, and the crown sits on the core. It supplies the retention a filling alone cannot. Posts are placed as part of the restorative stage that follows endodontics.

Types in this category

Metal posts are grouped by how they grip the canal and by their shape.

• Active (screw) posts — threaded to engage the dentine directly; strong retention in a short root. E.g. EndoKing conical screw posts.
• Passive (cemented) posts — smooth or lightly serrated, held by cement; gentler on the root. E.g. Angelus Reforpost steel.
• Tapered posts — follow the canal's natural cone; conserve tooth, less drilling.
• Parallel posts — grip along the full length for more retention; need a parallel channel prepared.
• Integrated systems — post supplied with its matching drill for an exact fit. E.g. iPost.

How to choose

Match the post to the tooth and the case:

• Retention needed — short or flared root favours an active/parallel post; more root length allows a passive one.
• Root strength — a thin or fragile root suits a passive post that adds less stress.
• Material — stainless steel is stiff and economical; titanium alloy is strong and biocompatible.
• Appearance — metal shows through thin gingiva; for visible anterior teeth, consider a tooth-coloured option in the fiber posts range.

Preparing the post space

The post only holds if the space is cut cleanly and to the right depth:

• Clear the upper root filling but leave enough near the apex to hold the seal.
• Shape the channel to match the post's taper or parallel form.
• Use a Peeso reamer or the system's matching drill, from the peeso reamers range.
• Cut too deep and the seal weakens; too shallow and there is little to grip.

Why metal posts

Metal posts stay in wide use for good reasons — strong, low cost, proven, and quick to place. They suit posterior teeth and any case where strength and value matter more than a tooth-coloured finish.

Why buy metal posts from Dentalkart

• Active and passive types in one place — screw and cemented, tapered and parallel, so you can match the choice to the case without shopping around.
• Genuine, branded stock — posts from established endodontic brands, with the material and dimensions listed on every product page.
• Live stock and fast dispatch — orders ship across India with a GST invoice, and listings show what is ready to send.
• The full workflow — the reamers, cements and fibre alternatives you use alongside are stocked here too.

Dentalkart makes it simple to keep the right retainers on the shelf for everyday post-and-core work.

What is a metal post used for?

A metal post is placed in a root canal after root canal treatment to retain a core and crown. When a tooth has lost most of its natural crown, there is too little left to hold a filling and cap. The post anchors into the root, a core is built on it, and the crown sits on that core.

What is the difference between an active and a passive metal post?

How they hold. An active post is threaded and screws into the canal wall, gripping the dentine directly for strong retention in a short space. A passive post is smooth or lightly serrated and is held by cement alone. Active posts retain more; passive posts are gentler on the root because they create less stress.

Are metal posts stainless steel or titanium?

Both are used. Stainless steel posts are strong, stiff and economical, and remain very common. Titanium alloy posts are also strong and highly biocompatible. The choice is mainly one of preference and system, since both metals easily carry the load a rebuilt tooth takes. The product listing states the material for each post.

How is the space for a metal post prepared?

Gutta-percha is removed from the upper part of the canal and the channel is shaped to fit the post. Enough root filling is left at the tip to keep the seal. A Peeso reamer or matching drill does this, cutting to a controlled depth. Too deep risks the seal; too shallow leaves the post little to grip.

Metal post or fibre post — which is better?

It depends on the case. Metal posts are strong, proven and low cost, and suit posterior teeth where strength matters most. Fibre posts are tooth-coloured and flex more like dentine, which suits visible anterior teeth and thinner roots. Neither is universally better; the post is matched to the tooth, its position and the strength needed.