The endo-restorative interface: current concepts

Abstract

Successful endodontic treatment depends on the restorative treatment that follows. The connection between endodontic treatment and restorative dentistry is well accepted, but the best restorative approaches for endodontically treated teeth have always been somewhat controversial. A plethora of information from various sources contributes to the controversy and much of it is contradictory. With the emergence of implants in mainstream dentistry, there has been more emphasis on long-term outcomes and on evaluating the "restorability" of teeth prior to endodontic treatment. The long-term viability of endodontically treated teeth is no longer a "given" in the implant era. In consequence, some teeth that might have received endodontic treatment in the past are now extracted and replaced with implant-supported prostheses if they are marginally restorable or it makes more sense in the overall treatment plan. As it is not possible to review here all the literature on the restoration of endodontically treated teeth, this article focuses primarily on current concepts based on the literature from the past 10 years or so, and provides treatment guidelines based on that research.