Custom Post and Core Restorations for Dental Professionals

Istar Dental Lab makes the Post and Core — the substructure that sits inside a root-canal-treated tooth and carries the final crown.

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The Post and Core Product Range

A Post and Core is a two-part restoration: a post inside the cleaned root canal, and a core built around it that gives the final crown something to grip. We produce it in three forms, and we match the form to the case rather than pushing one default.

1. Cast One-Piece Post and Core

A custom metal unit — post and core cast as a single piece from the dentist's wax-up data or digital design. We mill or print the pattern, then cast it in Co-Cr, Ni-Cr, pure titanium, or a precious gold alloy depending on the request.

Best suited for:

Oval, ribbon-shaped, or non-circular canals where a stock post would seat poorly.
Short clinical crowns where retention needs to come from the full canal length.
Cases where the dentist prefers one monolithic unit rather than a bonded assembly.

2. Core Build-Up on a Dentist-Placed Prefabricated Post

The dentist seats a prefabricated post chairside (glass fiber, quartz fiber, titanium, or stainless steel) and sends us the case for a layered composite resin core build-up and the final crown. We do not supply the post itself — we need the brand, size, and length from the dentist so the core is shaped to the correct post geometry (see the case checklist below).

Best suited for:

Teeth with a sound ferrule and a canal that accepts a stock post cleanly.
Front teeth where a tooth-colored fiber post avoids the dark line a metal post can show through all-ceramic.
Workflows where the dentist wants the post seated and cured intraorally.

3. Digitally Designed Post and Core

Intraoral scan or digitized model goes into our CAD software, the post-and-core geometry is designed around the canal and the planned crown, and we deliver either a milled pattern for casting or a direct milled/printed unit. This path is used when the clinical data is fully digital and the dentist wants to review the design before we commit to the final material.

For root-canal and prosthodontic indications, we follow the clinical guidance published by the American Association of Endodontists and the American College of Prosthodontists — a post retains the core; the ferrule and the final crown carry the structural work.

Choosing Between Cast, Prefab, and Digital

Three practical questions decide which form fits:

Decision point	Pick cast one-piece	Pick prefab post + core build-up	Pick digitally designed
Canal shape	Oval / ribbon / flared	Round, matches a stock post	Any, provided the scan is clean
Ferrule remaining	Minimal — needs maximum canal engagement	Adequate, ~1.5–2 mm circumferential	Adequate, documented in the scan
Aesthetics under all-ceramic	Noble alloy or titanium if show-through is a concern	Tooth-colored fiber post	Depends on final material
Submission type	Impression or scan + planned design	Scan or impression after post is seated	Intraoral scan with canal visible
Pre-build design review	Available on request	Not usually needed	Standard step

Materials We Use

We keep the material library consistent to avoid batch-to-batch surprises. For a Post and Core, the usual options are:

Cast alloys: Co-Cr (including Vitallium), Ni-Cr, commercially pure titanium, PEEK framework material, and precious gold alloys when the dentist specifies them. Rx on file governs the choice.
Composite core material: dual-cure composite resins from Ivoclar and Shofu, selected for radiopacity and crown-prep machinability.
Opaquer / OP layer on metal post surfaces when the planned crown is monolithic or layered zirconia, so the metal shade does not show through a translucent restoration. For PFM crowns, the opaquer step is not required because the metal substructure already blocks the underlying color — see the FAQ below.

Every case is tied to a unique case number that records the technician, equipment, and material batch used. If you need brand, country of origin, and lot numbers for a specific case, we can issue them with the delivery. Material safety data sheets are kept on file.

Our In-House Manufacturing Workflow

A Post and Core case moves through the same documented pipeline we use for crown and bridge:

Case intake and data check. The customer service team confirms Rx, scan or impression quality, post brand and length (for prefab-post cases), opposing arch, bite, and shade data. Missing items trigger a hold and a message back to you — not a guess.

CAD design. The restoration is designed by a technician in our ~100-person CAD department. For post and core, this includes canal mapping, core geometry, ferrule check, and crown-margin planning.

Pattern production. Milled wax or resin pattern for casting cases; direct milling or 3D printing for digital builds.

Casting or finishing. Casting under controlled furnace parameters for cast post and core; curing, polishing, and OP coating for composite cores on prefab posts.

Quality inspection. Independent QC — not the technician who made it.

Packaging and shipment. Each restoration is boxed, labeled, and bagged, then placed in a cushioned shipper with the case documents.

Because every stage is in-house, we can hold scheduled delivery dates even during the production peak, where our monthly capacity scales up for zirconia single units, bridges, All-on-X arches, and removable work. Post and Core cases ride on the same schedule.

Quality Control, Compliance, and Traceability

The things that actually matter for a B2B dental lab decision are provenance and reproducibility. Here is what we can show you.

Regulatory registrations (lab side):

FDA facility registration (US exports; verifiable on the FDA public database).
MDR custom-device notification (EU).
MHRA registration (UK).
ISO 13485 quality management system.

Material side: CE and ISO 10993 biocompatibility documentation on file for the specific materials used in your case. We can provide the material certificate per case on request. (Reference: the American Dental Association's current CDT descriptors distinguish an indirectly fabricated post and core from a prefabricated post and core — confirm the specific code before billing.)

Final inspection — what we check on a Post and Core case:

Fit at the canal and seating stop.
Core shape and margin location relative to the planned crown.
Ferrule engagement after prep simulation.
Freedom from porosity, cracks, or chipping on cast units.
Surface finish and OP coverage on composite cores.
No visible mismatch between delivered unit and approved design.

Traceability: every case keeps a record of the technician, the equipment used, the material lot, and the QC result. We can retrieve this record later if a case is reviewed clinically.

What to Send Us with a Post and Core Case

A clean case drops straight into design. A missing item puts the case on hold until you reply, and that pause is on us to flag quickly but on the clock either way.

Minimum data for every Post and Core case:

Rx covering clinic, dentist, patient identifier (an internal case number is fine — no full names required), tooth number, planned final crown material, and target shade.
Post-op root canal radiograph showing the sealed canal and apical seal (we leave the apical 4–5 mm of root filling untouched).
Impression or intraoral scan of the preparation with the canal orifice visible, plus opposing arch and bite registration.
Ferrule height and circumferential wall information — a short note or a labeled scan.
Prep margin location (supragingival, equigingival, or subgingival with mm).
For a core-only case on a prefabricated post: the post brand, system, diameter, and length. We cannot design around a post we cannot identify.
Shade data for the final crown, especially for all-ceramic cases where the post or core shade affects the end result.
Any photos that help with aesthetics — natural light, patient with shade tab in frame, retracted intraoral.

Patient privacy: we recommend using your internal case number instead of the patient's full name. File transfer is over an encrypted channel, and we can sign an NDA on request.

File formats and workflows we accept:

Open mesh formats: STL, PLY (with color for anterior aesthetic cases), OBJ, DCM.
3Shape TRIOS case packages (.3oxz) and native .dcm.
iTero STL/PLY exports from the backend.
Medit, Shining3D, Dexis IS, Planmeca, Primescan, CEREC/Sirona open exports.
Delivery via 3Shape Communicate, Medit Link, DS Core, OrisLink, Panda, or WeTransfer.

A single case belongs in its own folder, zipped. STL target under ~150 MB per arch; PLY with color under ~300 MB. If a scan has a hole at the margin, pooled saliva at the preparation, or stitching errors across the arch, we will ask for a rescan rather than guess.

Lead Times, Design Approval, and Shipping

Base lead time for a Post and Core case:

2–3 business days of lab production. The clock starts the day we receive a complete, approved case and stops when we hand it to the courier. Design-approval time, missing-data holds, and your reply time are not counted; the lead time resets from the point everything is in.

Shipping day:

we send the tracking number the same business day the case ships.

Design review before milling or casting:

available on any case where you want to see the design first. Confirmed-design cases add 1–2 business days because production waits for your sign-off. You can mark changes directly on the design screenshot — we will not start casting until the version is approved in writing (email or the shared chat, with the date on the record).

Weekends and Chinese public holidays:

no production and no shipping; those days do not count toward the committed lead time.

Rush and rework:

rework caused by our side is prioritized ahead of new cases. New rush requests are evaluated against current capacity before a new date is quoted.

Shipping options:

your courier account or ours, consolidated shipments across multiple cases to reduce logistics cost. Delivery goes to the address you provide; we do not have the ability to redirect in-transit shipments once a courier picks up.

Status touchpoints you will see on every case:

case received, design complete, in production, QC passed, shipped (with tracking number).

Working with Us

Who we are set up to serve: dentists, dental clinics, DSOs, and dental laboratories looking for a direct manufacturer rather than an intermediary. Istar has delivered restorations to more than 50 labs, more than 100 clinics, and 400+ individual dentists, primarily across the United States, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

Minimum commitment: for clinic customers, no minimum order quantity — we can run a single Post and Core case if the shipping economics work. For lab-to-lab outsourcing, we ask for a monthly volume floor; your account manager will quote that against the mix of work.

Account options we support:

English-language case communication, including technical review meetings over video for complex cases.
Custom declaration documents, material certificates, and product labels in English.
Dedicated case coordinators and technician team assignments for high-volume clinic groups or multi-location DSOs.
Factory visit or video audit of our Shenzhen and Huizhou facilities on request.

FAQ

What exactly do you make — the post, the core, or both?

We make the core, we make cast one-piece post-and-core units, and we design digital post-and-core restorations. For composite core cases we do not supply the post itself; the dentist seats the prefab post chairside and sends the case for the build-up and final crown. We need the post brand and length on the Rx either way.

Can I send a Post and Core case without a scan — just an impression?

Yes. We accept VPS, polyether, and condensation silicone impressions, plus stone or 3D-printed resin models, and segmented models with dies. Digital workflows are faster because we save the shipping leg, but the impression path is fully supported.

My preparation has a short ferrule. Will the case still work?

We will flag it. The ferrule is one of the first checks our CAD technician makes. If the circumferential wall is marginal, we will send you a labeled screenshot before cutting any material, so you can decide whether to adjust the preparation or move to a different plan.

I am using a translucent zirconia crown — does the post or core shade matter?

Yes. A dark preparation or an uncoated metal post can show through monolithic or layered zirconia. For those cases we apply an OP layer on the metal surface. If the crown is PFM, the metal coping already blocks underlying color, so OP on the core is not needed.

Which post brands do you support for the core build-up path?

Any post with a published geometry and shade system — glass or quartz fiber posts from the major prosthodontic suppliers, titanium or stainless steel prefab posts, and zirconia posts for anterior cases. We only need you to tell us the exact brand, size, and length so our design matches the actual post sitting in the canal.

Is the final crown always needed on top of a Post and Core?

Yes, for all clinical cases we have ever received. The crown is what carries occlusal and lateral load. We produce the final crown together with the post and core as a single case if you want them on the same lead time.

Do you ship directly to my patient or to the clinic?

We ship to the clinic or lab address on the Rx. Once a courier has picked up, we cannot redirect the parcel. Address changes have to be made before the case leaves our facility.

Can we review the design before you commit to casting or milling?

Yes. We will post the design to our shared channel or email it; you mark changes on the image, and we hold production until the version is approved in writing. Expect 1–2 added business days when design approval is enabled.

What happens if a case needs rework?

Rework attributable to our production — such as misfit at the canal, cracks on cast units, or shade miss on an aesthetic case — is covered and prioritized ahead of new work. Rework driven by changed material, changed shade after approval, or new scan data is treated as a new case. Either way, we ask for photos and the original case number so the root cause can be filed.

Can I audit the lab?

Yes. In-person visits to the Shenzhen and Huizhou facilities are arranged by appointment; remote video walk-throughs of the production line, QC bench, and material storage are also available. Dentists, labs, and DSO quality teams have taken us up on both.

Ready to Send a Case?

If this matches what you need, the fastest path is:

Attach the case data — Rx with tooth number and planned crown material, post brand and length if applicable, scan or impression, opposing arch, bite, and shade.

Add a note on anything unusual — short ferrule, aesthetic concerns, specific alloy preference, rush date.

Tell us how you want the design review handled — review-before-casting on, or ship on standard lead time.

Email the case or a general inquiry to your account manager, or request a first-time setup if you have not worked with us before. We will reply within one business day with any data checks, a quote, and a lead-time commitment.

For a full product catalog, material certificates, or a B2B price schedule, ask your account manager — we send those directly rather than publishing them, because the right version depends on your country, courier arrangement, and case mix.

Want to get in touch directly? Reach out to our sales representative via WhatsApp at +8618925410015 for a quick response and a price quote!