Tooth Preparation – Essential Clinical Guidelines
Although the fundamental principles of tooth preparation have stayed the same over time, newer materials—such as all-ceramic systems—demand more precise attention to the shape and details of the preparation.One of the primary challenges is accurately determining how much tooth structure can be safely removed without risking the health of the tooth.Whenever possible, placing the margin above the gum line is advised to reduce effects on the gums and to improve visibility of the margin.No single type of finish line has been proven to be clearly better than others in terms of how accurately the margin fits.The most important factor is how easily the margin can be identified—whether by the dental technician or by digital scanning systems—as this directly affects the precision and fit of the final restoration.Ensuring that the preparation margin is visible and well-documented should be a top clinical priority in every restorative procedure.Podhorsky A, Rehmann P, Wöstmann B. Tooth preparation for full-coverage restorations—a literature review. Clin Oral Investig. 2015 Jun;19(5):959-68.
By Radek Mounajjed
Free course on Cicero dental education platform.
Topics: Mounajjed, Crown, Finish line, supragingival, Subgingival