YES. Biolight® DRILL-FREE provides a solid, anatomical anchoring to remaining tooth structure. By arranging reinforcement towards the periphery of the canal walls, support of the core is improved. The concept is similar to how reinforcement steel rods and used in concrete structures, where many smaller rods are placed around the perimeter of the concrete. In addition, all risks associated with drilling are eliminated.

Biolight® DRILL-FREE posts are available in bundles of 4, 6, 9 and 12 strands. The post size is selected based on the width of the canal at the coronal area. Depending upon the canal width at the apical stop, a certain number of strands must be pushed to the stop. Both of the measurements are made with the assistance of a radiograph and the template that is included in the TRAINING KIT.

Since Biolight® DRILL-FREE is much more retentive that a traditional master post, it is not necessary to remove sealing material down to 5mm from the apex. However, the post length in the canal should be 1.5x the length of the future crown. Molars and bicuspids will benefit from having posts in each canal.

Do not use a calibrated drill from current fiber posts to remove gutta percha. Use a thin-tapered diamond-coated ultrasonic insert to remove all gutta remnants. This will result in maximum bond and retention.

With traditional master posts, a single post is placed, often in the palatal canal of a maxillary molar or the distal canal of a mandibular molar. Using Biolight® DRILL-FREE, retention can be significantly increased by placing 3 micro-posts in molar canals in 2 micro-posts in bicuspids. Since Biolight® DRILL-FREE is more retentive, it is not necessary to reach 5mm from the apex. Lastly, the flexibility of Biolight® DRILL-FREE will allow the micro-posts to curve with the canal.

YES. At first glance, Biolight® DRILL-FREE appears to be perfectly adapted for use in oblong canals, however, since the concept behind the product is to provide support around the periphery of the canal walls, it is ideal for ALL shapes of canals.

Many studies have shown that the root canal of a natural tooth doesn’t provide much stress resistance. It is “empty” – it’s the walls that absorb most of the stresses. When drilling the post room for a traditional master post, this really goes against natural tooth physics & mechanics. Biolight® DRILL-FREE maintains the tooth structure and, by distributing the posts as close to the canal walls as possible, contributes to a reinforcement that is similar to that of the original tooth. It also provides reinforcement for the resin cement.

It is important to follow the steps in the instructional video. There is a procedure that will ensure predictable, bubble-free results (see 1:57 in the video).

If you’re not placing many posts, either you have concerns that existing posts may damage the tooth, or you believe that the post is not necessary. Biolight® DRILL-FREE will improve the physical properties of the final crown. It will not, in any way, lessen the result of a restoration without a post. Since no existing tooth structure is removed, you are simply using more resistant material from what you normally use. Internal tests show a gain in anchoring of 40% or more when adding a Biolight® DRILL-FREE to the restoration.

The success of an endo-crown is limited to an ideal design and structure. Sufficient depth of anchorage is required, which will result in a more fragile tooth. In conjunction with a hard non-viscoelastic crown restorative material, high stresses will immediately and directly be transmitted to zones a) and b) below, which will cause irreparable fatigue fractures. In addition, there is no consensus on their use. It seems more prudent and conservative to use an established post and core technique, while using non-invasive posts, such as Biolight® DRILL-FREE.

The Biolight® DRILL-FREE system is based on current bonding principals. It is mandatory to create a completely dry field, and to have healthy tooth structure for bonding. The Use of a dual-cure dentin adhesive is required.

YES, as long as you respect the protocol instructions, and the viscosity of the cement is suitable for the application. For your 1st cases, we recommend that you use Biolight® STiK! DC and Biolight® CORE DC, as these materials have been tested for optimal results with Biolight® DRILL-FREE posts. This will allow you to compare the viscosity and properties of other materials that you may be considering in the future.

As, change is sometimes stressful, we created a Biolight® DRILL-FREE TRAINING KIT that will allow you to place 3 posts on the provided model, prior to doing real cases. You will quickly realize that the procedure is fast and easy. There are also videos, pictures, documentation, and specialised technical support team to help you with any requests you have.

Your most valuable asset is time, and since there is no drilling involved in the procedure, you will be saving valuable time. The actual post costs are similar to other fiber posts, however there are no drills to buy. The resin cement doubles as the core buildup material, further reducing costs.

In North America, Biolight® DRILL-FREE is sold by Synca. Synca offers several methods of assistance to clinicians. The Synca web site contains useful information, including tutorial videos. Synca regularly schedules on-line courses, to help new users familiarize themselves with the product and technique. Synca has a Chat system on their web site where you can ask questions, or you can email a question. There's also a Facebook group where clinicians can exchange questions and post cases.

Following root canal therapy, post placement is a single-visit procedure, as with other fiber posts.

Several types of post and endodontic failures are possible with post and core restorations:

• Cohesive failure. Adhesive is visible on both surfaces that has separated. Probable cause is adhesive selection of application.
• Adhesive failure. Adhesive has de-bonded from one of the surfaces. Probable cause is improper preparation of that surface.
• Cohesive and adhesive failure. Combination of both.
• Structural failure. Post has fractured and will need to be removed.
• Endodontic failure. Post will need to be removed for further root canal treatment.

Post removal process:

Use a small round of flame shaped diamond bur to drill in the center of the canal to allow for insertion of a coarse grit ultrasonic tip that will remove remaining cement and post strands.

Viscoelasticity is an important physical property of fiber-reinforced composite (FRC). It exhibits both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation. When a stress is applied to a viscoelastic material, such as FRC, parts of its long polymer chain deforms. The FRC remains a solid material while under this stress load, even though parts of their chain are rearranging. This minimizes the immediate load spike. When the original stress is taken away, the removal of the stress will cause the composite to return to its original form.

These shock-absorbing properties of Biolight® DRILL-FREE and non-invasive technology (no drilling) will protect the tooth from irreparable fractures.

YES, they are manufactured using the same radiopaque FRC (fiber-reinforced composite) as our other fiber posts.