Prof.

Asaad Javaid
BDS, MCPS, MDS

Baqai Dental College

BMU, Karachi

Dentinal Pins

Dentinal Pins
They are used for auxiliary
retention in dentistry

Auxiliary retention??
Accessory

retention
Additional retention
Extra retention
Supplementary retention

In which clinical situations,

auxiliary retention is
required?

Is it required here??

Is it required here??

Is it required here??

Yes ?
No?

Is it required here??

Yes?
No?

They require auxiliary retention

as they are Complex cavities

Modes of retention in
dentistry

1.
2.

Mechanical retention
Chemical retention

Mechanical retention

Macromechanical retention
Micromechanical retention

Macromechanical retention

Non pin supported

Pin supported
Post supported
Amlgapins

Non pin retention

Parellelism
Parallel (or slightly occlusally
converging) walls of preparation give
good retention

Undercuts
Undercuts are the primary
source of retention in direct
restorations

Dovetails
Cavity occurs on mesial or distal
surface but dovetail is made to
achieve retention

Groove

Lock
Slot
Cove
U-shaped groove

Lock
Given in dentin in the walls of the
proximal box at axio-lingual and axiobuccal line angles

Retentive lock being formed with bur # 169L

Locks prepared
0.2 to 0.3 mm wide and
0.5mm deep into dentin

Slot
It is a type of retentive groove whose
whole length is in horizontal plane

slots

Inverted cone

Place with 33-1/2

inverted cone

Cove
It is a small concavity (depression)
prepared in vertical walls of a cavity

Cove

coves

lock
slots

U- shaped Groove
It is a is U-shaped continuous groove
along the line angle between gingivoaxio lingual and gingivo-axio-buccal
line angle
It does not impinge in the pulpal
direction

Contd
It is prepared with 1/4 round bur at a
very
low speed with a minimal pressure

amalgapins

Placement locations similar to other

pins
Depth 1.5-2.0 mm
Diameter 0.8 mm
Place with #330 or #56 (0.8mm
dia.)

Pin supported retention

It is achieved
through dentinal
pins

Dentinal pins: Indications

Grossly mutilated teeth

Extended preparation
Cores for full coverage restoration
Economic factors

Core build up

Contra-indications

Active caries
Large pulp chamber
Abnormal crown or root contour
Difficulty in access for twist drill and pin
placement

Types: dentinal pins

Cement pins
Friction-locked pins
Self- threading pins

Rarely used now

No food to eat !!

Food of thought for us ??

Friction-locked

Cement pins

TMS

Self-threading pins

The most retentive pins

TMS ( Thread Mate System) is the
most widely used self-threading pins

TMS pins: merits

Color-coding system
Wide range of sizes
Gold-plated surface
Greater retentiveness

TMS kit
contra-angle low speed hand piece

Hand wrench

Drill

Bending tool

TMS pins (diameter)

Regular
( 0.031 inch [0.78 mm])

Minim
(0.024 inch [0.61mm])
Minikin
(0.019 inch [0.48 mm])

Minuta
( 0.015 inch [0.38 mm]).

Color code and drill size

Name

color code

pin diameter

drill diameter

Regular

gold

0.031

0.027

Minim

silver

0.024

0.021

Minikin

red

0.019

0.017

Minuta

pink

0.015

0.0135

Placement of pins

Sequence in pin placement

Complete cavity preparation, including careful

caries removal
Choose location for pin and prepare a starting
point with a #1/4 round bur
Re-evaluate pin location
Check direction by palpating the external
surface of the tooth

Sequence in pin placement

Prepare pin channel

Place pin

Sequence in pin placement

Bend pin as necessary

Try in matrix band
Try in amalgam condensers
Cut off excess length of pin, leaving about
2mm projection ( It is difficult!)

Remember

Pins provide retention form

Pins do not strengthen either the
tooth or the restoration (actually
weaken both)

Therefore, limit use to minimum #

necessary


Place only in healthy dentin
Demineralized dentin will not hold
pins
Post-operative sensitivity if placed
close to the pulp

How many pins?

1 pin / missing cusp

1 pin / missing line angle
1 pin / missing proximal surface
3 surface preparations (e.g. MOL,
DOL, MOB & DOB have lost line angle
+ cusp-- place 1 pin

Pin Placement: Where?

1 mm inside the DEJ

2.0 mm into dentin
2.0 mm into amalgam

Inter-pin distance

Depends on pin diameter

3 mm for Minikin 0.019" dia. pins

5 mm for Minim 0.021" dia. pins)
Larger dia. greater inter-pin distance

Best locations

line angle areas

Worst locations

Above bifurcation
Above trifurcation
Where root concavity is expected

Drilling of hole

Drill parallel to the nearest external

tooth surface
Align twist drill with external tooth
surface

Drilling of hole

Clockwise rotation
Drill hole in one continuous motion
Keep drill revolving until withdrawn
from dentin
Maintain constant angulations

Caution
Pilot holes must enter dentin at 90
to gain access to condense amalgam
around full circumference of pin

Potential risks

Voids around pin due to inadequate

condensation
Pin at or just below surface of
amalgam
Dentinal crazing & enamel cracks
Pulp exposure
Root perforation

Remedy for potential

risks

Pin at amalgam surface

Potential for microleakage

Weakens amalgam

Remedy:
Shorten with round diamond

Dentinal crazing & enamel cracks

Stress concentration at end of pin
occurs causing dentinal crazing or
root fracture with subsequent
microleakage

Pulp exposure

Cover exposure with Ca(OH)2

Apply GIC over Ca(OH)2

Root perforation

Condense amalgam into perforation

Remove amalgam from outside of
root & burnish thoroughly

Micromechanical retention

It is achieved through acid-etching

Chemical retention

It is achieved through Chemical union

Thank you