Evaluation of a half-digital technique for fabricating customized post-cores: A pilot study

Objectives: The current half-digital post-core fabrication technique can replace the conventional methods; however, it does not consider the impact occlusion has on the digital design. This study proposed a half-digital workflow that integrated intracanal impression with dentition scanning, and evaluated the accuracy of the post-cores fabricated by it.Methods: Standard models with three extracted teeth (a central incisor, a premolar, and a molar) were prepared. Eight post-cores were fabricated for each tooth by the half-digital technique and eight by the conventional technique as controls. Scanning was performed with a microcomputed tomography system. The volume of the overall space (VOS) between the post and canal wall, the space areas in three standardized sections (A, B, and C), and the apical gap (AG) were calculated and statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: The two techniques differed significantly in the VOS (p < 0.05), section B (p < 0.05), and AG (p < 0.05) of all three teeth but not for sections A (p = 0.099) and C (p = 0.636).Conclusions: The half-digital technique investigated in this study could produce better-fitting customized post-cores than the conventional technique.