The Splendor – SAP single fiberglass post system from Angelus aids this dentist in minimally invasive procedures, boosting efficiency and providing optimal mechanical interlock.
The Splendor – SAP single fiberglass post system from Angelus aids.
For the longest time, dentists have needed to keep a variety of parallel posts handy and expect, in many cases, to remove plenty of internal dentin during post procedures.
That’s why Gary Radz, DDS, a general dentist in Denver, Colorado, was glad to learn about and then try out the Splendor – SAP (Single Adjustable Post) single fiberglass post system from Angelus Dental. Designed for minimally invasive procedures and providing optimal mechanical interlock, the solution consists of 1 narrow (0.65 mm at apical tip, 1.0 mm at coronal end) Universal end-tapered post size to fit the modern, conservative root canal therapies at the apical area. Even better, this is usually achieved without drilling.
Gary Radz, DDS
Radz learned of the new Splendor – SAP at the beginning of this year. Like most practices, his Denver Place Dentistry office was forced to shut down for several weeks in the spring due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Despite this, he has used the post system enough since reopening to be confident that it delivers a long-term solution for his patients.
“The product itself is unique in that it meets a clinical need that has not been well-addressed. It’s the adjustability that makes it special,” Radz says.
The diameter of a post prep can vary greatly from the cervical aspect to the apical aspect. The Splendor – SAP, with its adjustable end-tapered post and corresponding conical/tapered (0.08) sleeve, allows for the preservation of more internal dentin during procedures and simplifies the post selection process in the operatory.
Splendor – SAP lets the clinician adapt the fiber post to the canal flare with a vertically sliding (adjustable) conical sleeve. The sleeve is made of the same fiber-reinforced composite as the post, and when needed, slides on when the post is inserted, converting a pointed, parallel post into a custom-fitted post. Replacing cement with material of high mechanical properties increases the overall strength of the post/core.
Angelus Dental
855-346-3682 | bit.ly/SplendorSAP
“Most posts are 1 diameter top to bottom, or they have a varying degree of taper but not expansive—the taper is fixed,” Radz explains. “It’s not adjustable. The challenge when you’re putting in a post in the tooth instead of a root canal is, you want to remove the root canal filling material without removing more tooth structure.
“Many systems force you to remove a little more tooth structure to be able to fit the predesigned, sized diameter taper of the system’s given post. That can be challenging, and it can limit, sometimes, the depths that you can place the posts,” he says.
With other post systems, a fixed structure requires fitting into the tooth and adapting accordingly. This product provides a solution that benefits the patient by increasing the tooth’s life.
“The more tooth that you remove, the weaker the tooth is and the greater chance of vertical fracture down the line,” he says. “The less tooth removed, the better the prognosis andthe chance of the tooth lasting longer.”
Plenty of Pluses
The versatility of the Splendor – SAP system means practices don’t need to keep 3 to 6 sizes of posts (and corresponding drills) on hand to meet each clinical challenge that arises with the many configurations of root canals.
“It does eliminate the need to have either multiple systems or multiple diameters within 1 system,” Radz says. “There are multiple diameters within the SAP system, and within the diameters in it, you can do pretty much everything. It helps with efficiency and inventory control.”
Another plus: Switching to this adjustable post system does not require much change.
“It’s pretty much plug and play. The learning curve is [that] you put in maybe 2 posts, and then you never have to stop and think about it. If you read the directions, you can easily grasp the concept,” he says.
Radz has plenty of confidence in using the system and recommending it to colleagues.
“The reduction of inventory is helpful clinically so the dental assistant is not putting out 4 different kits, not knowing what we’re going to use,” Radz adds. “This one is going to work 95% of the time, so just put that one out. It’s a simple product that resolves an issue in a rather unique manner. I don’t believe there’s anything else out there like this.”
