No problem. I was afraid I hadn't been clear enough that I was merely
adding an anecdote that was worth exactly what was paid for it.

The *tooth* never hurt. The tissue surrounding the tooth hurt like all
hell, due to the needle sticks, grinding, etc. I don't have a digital
xray of the tooth, but even if I did, it doesn't really show how damaged
the erupted areas were - it had large amalgam fillings, which fell out
when the tooth cracked diagonally, taking out the lingual side and most
of the back but the 'footprint' of the tooth was intact, and the roots
are strong and surprisingly healthy. A lot of remaining tooth had to be
removed as it was too thin to be of use (remember, it was honeycombed
with holes from former fillings) and the lingual side was broken just at
the gumline. After the tooth was 'cleaned up,' the casting was made for
the post - all this took some time, and no doubt being in a bite block
for as long as I was contributed to the post-poking pain.

By the time the post was to be intalled, the tissue had recovered and
stopped hurting; the tooth itself remains nonpainful, even with a large,
strange object in it. The only really thing I notice is that it's wider
and thicker than it's been for a year (since the temp is shaped like a
healthy tooth, and not my broken one).

It's been xrayed since the post has been placed (there is some concern
since #2 and #4 are absent) but the post is an excellent fit and so far,
it's fine. Once #30's crown is done - it had an RC due to absess years
ago but I couldn't afford the crown then - we'll all see how #3 does
with another tooth making full contact.

Agreed

This is why I rarely prep for the crown on the RCT appt.

Agree here but am placing less posts and have eschewed placing
pins altogether.
AC plans for future and ultimate failure, his practice is much
different from mine.
One of us dislikes prostho, both are masters of the craft.

Titanium is an interesting metal.  Strong, light, yet a bit flexible.
Very difficult to forge and a bit rare, compared to iron (steel)
There are some firearms with titanium parts, it's too flexible
for the frame.

Am using gold plated Dentatus, post space prepared with the
four sided prep instruments that are part of the kit.
Cement them in place, use an explorer to coat the walls,
seating the post counterclockwise with a vibrating motion.
Usually give a 1/4 to 1/3 clockwise turn after full seating
Using Fuji 9 as the core/luting agent. Often done
in two steps.

Most posts IME fail due to cement failure of the build-up
material/post/tooth structure interface. Micro-leakage at the
crown margin/cement/tooth interface is the starting point of failure.

Bonding  PFM's with a material such as Calibra
may become standard, but material science needs to advance
a bit further.

Bonding an all ceramic restoration, including silanation and an
*absolutely* dry field may be the ultimate cure
but not always achievable.

When any restoration can be truly bonded in a 'wet' field,
then failures may be a thing of the past.

Of course the cause of cuspal fractures must be addressed,
and a preventative must be implemented. NTI is my choice
but any other device is better than nothing.

Damn, my soap-box just collapsed;  whacked my noggin
and hurt myself <g>

OK TJ,  have gone on too long,,,

Time for a nap ;-]]

I meant the prepping was quite painful. The tooth itself is 'dead' - the
nerve had 'died' before the RC had certainly hadn't recovered after it
(and yes, the RC had been done the previous week). It didn't hurt at all
until I had spent 2.5 hours in a bite block, getting many, many
needlesticks, a lot of grinding and some work done on the gum. The tooth
still didn't hurt - but everything around it sure as hell did. A lot.

Again, just an anecdote from someone who had recently had it done to
someone else who recently had something similar done - and please note,
my anecdote began with "see your dentist for real advice."

Thanks for the clarification.

Best,
Steve