INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR SIMONE GRANDINI Professor Simone Grandini, DDS, MSc ,PhD is the Chair of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Dean of the School of Dental Hygienists at the Tuscan School of Dental Medicine, University of Siena, Italy. Since 1996 he has published and collaborated on numerous articles and invitro and clinical studies involving post-endodontic rehabilitation using the low-modulus approach. Dr Grandini is credited with “officializing” the chair-side Anatomic Post and Core. 1. Dr. Grandini, in several publications you have described/defined the Anatomical Post as “a translucent fiber post covered by a layer of light curing resin -cured outside of the mouth - which allows for an individual, anatomic shaping of the post through its insertion into the prepared canal”. What do you consider to be the greatest clinical advantage(s) of this technique?
“The “Anatomical post” has a main advantage: a uniform layer of cement. This will reduce the chance of debonding, leading to an ideal condition for post retention, and possibly to a higher strength of the whole system.” 2. What are the primary indications, seen by most general dentists, for this technique, and would you consider it to be a bona fide alternative to a custom cast post?
“This kind of post is basically a resin based cast post! In those clinical situations where the dentist finds an oval canal, the anatomical post will be able to fit very well, reducing the amount of material used during cementation procedures. A lower amount of cement during polymerization will lead to less voids in the cement layer, again reducing the de-bonding which is the main problem of fiber posts in non rounded canals.” 3. In your SEM evaluations of this type of restoration, what was the most important finding?
“The resin cement thickness was significantly lower when using anatomic posts than when using a normal post (standardized posts), especially at the coronal and middle third of the canal. A good adaptation of the anatomical post was evident, and the clinical advantages during cementation became obvious at that point.”