The endodontically treated tooth. Restorative concepts and techniques.

There is not one post, core, or final restoration that can be used in all clinical situations. If this were the case, there would not be the need for the numerous books on restoration that have been written over the last 3 decades. This article has not discussed the merits and shortcomings of the numerous restorative concepts and techniques that exist, but rather has concentrated on those that we feel are valid and have application today. Dentistry, like the other health professions, does not have the luxury of being able to limit those variables that occur daily in our clinical practice. We must learn to work with these variables and spend less time trying to find the one that applies to all cases: the ideal restoration that can be produced for the masses. When we understand the basic concepts of how to retain the various restorative components and how to protect remaining tooth structure, our ability to answer the numerous questions that arise during the restorative process will be facilitated and will result in final restorations that are based on sound design principles.