Fixed Pros Flashcards
What is a crown?
- full coverage extra-coronal restoration
- indirect restoration
How is a crown attached to a tooth?
cemented/luted
What can crowns be made from?
- gold alloy (precious metal alloy)
- ceramic
- metal bonded to ceramic
- non precious metal alloy (eg. CoCr, NiCr)
What can a crown be used to retain?
a prosthesis
What are the indications for a crown?
- repeated failure of a direct plastic restoration
- difficulty achieving adequate contour, contact point and occlusal contacts with direct restoration
- minimise risk of tooth fracture
- aesthetics
- to accommodate a metal-based removable prosthesis
- bridge abutment
- replacement of an existing crown
What do inadequate occlusal contacts of a large direct restoration risk?
increased risk of restoration fracture and subsequent microleakage and secondary caries
What do inadequate contact points on a large direct restoration risk?
contact point not achieved, increased food packing, difficulty cleaning and maintaining restoration, risk of periodontal disease and secondary caries
What can a deficient contact point on a large direct restoration cause?
- food packing
- plaque trap
- risk of periodontal disease and secondary caries
What can an inadequate contour on a large direct restoration cause?
- difficulty maintaining OH, increased risk of caries and periodontal disease
- poor aesthetic outcome
What can a very long contact point and inadequate interproximal contour cause?
- difficulty cleaning
- increased risk of periodontal disease and secondary caries
What are crowns made on?
an articulated cast
Is a fractured cusp restorable?
not if it extends subgingivally
When is a cracked tooth considered restorable?
when the crack is isolated to crown ONLY
Are a split tooth or a vertical root fracture restorable?
No
How is a crown beneficial to a tooth with a fractured cusp isolated to the crown only?
- placing a crown would direct occlusal forces down the long axis of the tooth, preventing propagational cracks as the tooth is protected
What is the risk of a cracked tooth isolated to the crown being put under occlusal forces without a crown?
crack propagates further down the tooth possibly through root making it unrestorable
Why do root treated teeth have a higher risk of experiencing fracture?
due to amount of tooth lost due to caries, caries removal and endo access cavity
What type of root treated teeth have higher success rates than root treated teeth with normal direct restorations?
crowned root treated teeth
What type of crown is generally used as an aesthetic option?
ceramic crown for improved aesthetics
How can crowns be used as denture abutment teeth?
- crown prep with rest seat preparation for denture
- crown with incorporated rest seats within metal
What is a telescopic/double crown denture?
removable denture that fits precisely over teeth prepared with an ‘inner crown’
- expensive, very technique sensitive, requires excellent maintenance to avoid secondary caries
What can cause biological failure of an existing crown?
- secondary caries
- periodontal issues - perio disease, gingival inflammation, encroachment of biologic width
Where should a crown margin ideally finish?
- supragingivally but if it is subgingival it must NOT encroach on the biological width
What is the biological width comprised of?
- the junctional epithelium and the connective tissue
What can occur if a crown is placed which encroaches upon the biological width?
there is too short a distance between the crown margin and crest of the bone and the gingiva can reject the restoration, causing inflammation leading to loss of bony support of the tooth
What can cause the mechanical failure of a crown?
- ceramic fracture
- occlusal wear
- cement failure
What can cause the aesthetic failure of a crown?
visible margin
colour
size and shape
Why do we not crown everything?
- heat generation
- exposure of dentinal tubules
- potential pulp exposure
- potential to introduce bacteria into pulp of tooth
When should you not use a crown?
- lifestyle factors which adversely affect oral health
- active caries or periodontal disease
- inadequate crown height
- inadequate access for tooth preparation or impression taking
- when there is a more minimally invasive option
What lifestyle factors can influence the choice to place a crown or not?
- sugar intake
- oral hygiene
- smoking
- parafunction
What active disease types can influence the choice to place a crown or not?
- caries
- periodontal disease
- peri-radicular disease
- tooth wear
Why is a heavily worn down or heavily restored tooth not favourable for a crown?
inadequate tooth height
How does inadequate tooth height negatively impact crown prognosis?
- very short preparation for crown
- when rotational forces are applied, because its so short you have nothing on the opposing side when the crown is rotating
- crown can just rotate and fall off
- tooth this short cannot retain a crown on it just by mechanical means
What type of condition can cause inadequate access for tooth preparation or impression taking?
- sclerosis - scleroderma, post radiation changes
- post surgical changes
What are the options when a crown fails?
- a new crown
- a post retained crown
- extraction
What kind of guidance do we ideally want for placing a crown?
canine guidance
What is a core?
restoration placed in teeth prior to preparation for an indirect restoration (in teeth with large loss of tooth structure)
When is a core build up indicated?
if tooth or teeth are heavily restored or broken down
What materials can be used for direct cores?
- amalgam
- composite
- glass ionomer (all 3 used at DDH)
- resin modified GI
- compomer
- metal alloy - most commonly used at DDH
What are the advantages of amalgam as a core material?
- not particularly technique sensitive
- strong if placed in sufficient bulk (2mm or more)
- can be used as bonded amalgam
- easy to distinguish between it and tooth structure
- packable - voids avoided if packed well
What are the disadvantages of amalgam as a core material?
- long setting time
- low initial tensile/compressive strength - requires to leave crown till next visit
- weak in thin section
- mercury may be of concern to patients
- not adhesive unless with specific resin for bonding
- potential electrolytic action between amalgam and other metals in crowns e.g. gold
What are the advantages of composite resin as a core material?
- strong so can be placed in thinner section than amalgam
- immediate setting (not complete) with light cure allowing immediate preparation and impressions
- can be bonded to tooth structure
- no mercury
- tooth coloured so ideal under ceramic crowns
What are the disadvantages of composite resin as a core material?
- very technique sensitive - moisture contamination and polymerisation shrinkage should be avoided
- can be difficult to distinguish between composite and tooth structure when prepping margins
What are the advantages of GIC and RMGICs as core materials?
- adhesive
- fluoride release (controversial evidence)
- low thermal expansion coefficient
What are the disadvantages of GIC and RMGICs as core materials?
- low compressive and tensile strengths
- deterioration at low pH
- sensitivity to moisture during setting
- can be difficult to distinguish between GIC and tooth structure when prepping crown margins (NB fuji pink)
- not packable - danger of voids
How can retention of a core be gained generally in vital teeth?
- undercut preparation
- dentine pins
- adhesive materials
- elective endodontics - pulp chamber, posts
What are the disadvantages of a self-threading dentine pin?
- induces stresses
- dentinal crazing
- self shearing pins often do not penetrate to full depth of pin hole
- fracture resistance of core material reduced
- risk of perforation
What can be used instead of dentine pins for retention in vital teeth?
amalgam bonding
What is amalgam bonding?
- used to bond amalgam to tooth structure
- molecule present that allows bonding in MDP monomer (methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate) which creates long term durable bond to both dental tissue and metal oxides
What are 5 examples of amalgam bonding agents?
1) Panavia 21
2) Panavia F
3) Amalgam bond
4) RelyX ARC
5) Glass ionomer
What is the technique for amalgam bonding?
- complete cavity preparation
- place lining if necessary in extremely deep aspects
- etch enamel 20 secs, dentine 10 secs
- rinse and dry - good isolation
- dentine bonding agent on all aspects of cavity and light cure (panavia A&B, scotch bond)
- paint adhesive resin cement (dual cured e.g. panavia or RelyX ARC) on base and walls of cavity
- pack amalgam onto unset cement - wipe away excess
(make sure to place thin coat of vaseline on inner aspect of matrix band
What are the characteristics of a composite core?
- good bond to tooth structure
- tooth coloured crowns eg. procera (good under tooth coloured crowns)
- easy to prep/difficult to differentiate from tooth
- good coronal seal
- expansion in water - die relief required on cast before crown is prepared
How is a core retained in the restoration of an endodontically treated posterior tooth?
- best achieved by removing all gutta percha from pulp chamber
- place GI or RMGI over floor of pulp chamber and openings of root canals
- leaves an undercut pulp chamber providing potential for good mechanical retention
What material are Nayyar cores best suited to?
Amalgam (can use composite)
What is a Nayyar core?
retention for amalgam core derived from the remaining pulp chamber and prepared canals by extending amalgam into these areas
What is important for the placement of a Nayyar core?
- pulp chamber must be sufficiently undercut and of sufficient depth
What are the disadvantages of posts in posterior teeth?
- posts do not reinforce roots
- roots often narrow or curved
What can the use of posts in posterior teeth lead to?
- strip or lateral perforation
- weakened tooth
- root fracture
Generally what is used in a posterior tooth for fixed pros?
- generally do not use pre-fabricated posts in posterior teeth, we would use a Nayyar core
What are the key characteristics of posts in root filled anterior teeth?
- not needed if most coronal tooth structure present (intact marginal ridges)
- composite best over GI/RMGI coronal seal
- posts only needed to retain core if heavily broken down
- metal posts do not reinforce roots
Do metal posts reinforce roots?
no
When are posts needed in anterior root filled teeth?
only needed to retain core if tooth heavily broken down
How is gutta percha removed for a post space?
- soften with heat or chemicals
- mechanical with rotating instruments - preferred, usually a Gates Gliddens bur
- can be done immediately after obturation
What is the most efficient method of removing gutta percha for the post space?
- mechanical removal
How is mechanical removal of gutta percha for the post space achieved?
- use burs with blunt non-cutting tips e.g. Gates Gliddens (lateral cutting)
- start with smaller size to reduce heat generated and preferential cutting to one side of post space
Generally what size of Gates Gliddens bur is used to remove gutta percha for post space?
- start with size 3 (0.9mm) gates gliddens bur, 3 horizontal lines on it to indicate size
What are the Gates Gliddens burs matched to?
the post channel preparation burs
What does the size 3 Gates Gliddens bur match up with?
the thinnest parapost preparation bur
How much GP should be left apically before the placement of a post?
4mm
Why is some GP left apically before post placement?
4mm left apically to retain apical seal
How long should a post be?
as long as, if not longer than the crown
if short, lacks retention
How wide should the diameter of a post be apically?
diameter of post apically no greater than 1/3 of root
Where is a ferrule cut?
ferrule to crown or core - cut on natural tooth structure
What are the most retentive posts out of smooth, threaded and serrated?
threaded - best retention
serrated
smooth - least retentive
Which post is better for an anterior tooth?
parallel sided > tapered
How are custom made posts made?
- GP removed, impression post inserted and impression material (light bodied and heavy bodied silicone) to record an impression of the post hole space and the margins.
- impression sent to lab to be cast
When are cast post and cores advantageous?
advantageous when:
- unable to achieve parallel sided post
- altering angle of core to post
When should you avoid a cast post and core?
in crowns in tooth wear patients
What are the disadvantages of cast post and cores?
- poor fit - frequently shorter than length of impression post
- crown often made on 2nd impression so another impression required sometimes
- may be unsuitable under all ceramic restorations - no bond, no translucency
- frequent fracture
How are cast post and cores cast?
- cast in molten metal alloy
- cools from tip of post
- contracts on solidification towards tip
- sucks molten gold from core which acts as reservoir
- porosities created here
- fracture risk
Why do we tend to avoid threaded posts?
they induce internal pressure/stresses
When can preformed direct post and core build ups be used?
relevant when you have some supragingival natural tooth tissue
What kind of sides does a pre-formed serrated post have?
- parallel sided - better retention
What kind of cement is used for metal posts?
luting cement e.g. zinc phosphate or GI
Name two non-metallic posts
1) carbon fibre
2) quartz fibre
What kind of cement is used for non-metallic posts?
adhesive resin luting cements
What are the key characteristics of non-metallic posts?
- good flexural strength
- less rigid than metal (less chance of root fracture)
- compatible with all ceramic bonded crowns
- easier to remove if required
Why does the indirect technique of post placement take longer?
- involves more visits as lab requires to make post and core then perhaps take another impression once placed for the crown
What kind of post and core is recommended in a tooth with remaining tooth structure suitable for ferrule preparation and with sufficient structure to bond a core with help of a post?
fibre reinforced resin post
What kind of post and core is recommended in a tooth with insufficient tooth structure for ferrule preparation?
tooth will not provide any bracing and therefore you require a more rigid post in the form of a cast post and core
What can the placement of a fibre reinforced post with no ferrule result in?
could lead to flexing of post and marginal failure, which can lead to fluid ingress possibly causing delamination of the fibres within the resin post and hence failure
What are three examples of extra-coronal indirect restorations?
1) crowns - full/partial coverage
2) veneers
3) onlays
What are two examples of intra-coronal indirect restorations?
1) inlays
2) onlays
What materials can be used for indirect fixed prostheses?
- metal - gold, silver palladium, nickel chrome
- ceramic bonded to metal
- all ceramic
- composite
- acrylic (provisional)
An extra-coronal restoration has to occupy a 3D space bounded by what three sides?
1) proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth
2) occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth
3) soft tissues buccally and lingually/palatally
An intra-coronal restoration has to occupy a 3D space bounded by what three sides?
1) the proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth
2) occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth
3) the tooth preparation buccally and lingually/palatally
What are the six principles of preparation for a fixed prosthesis?
1) conservation of tooth tissue
2) resistance form
3) retention form
4) structural durability
5) marginal integrity
6) preservation of the periodontium
What risks are there if a tooth is over-prepped?
- risk of pulpal damage
- risk of losing retention and resistance form
- compromised strength of tooth
What risks are there if a tooth is under-prepped?
either:
- thin material for crown - poor aesthetics, inadequate strength
- overbuilt crown - plaque retention, poor aesthetics
What is retention form?
the ability of a preparation to retain a restoration in an occlusal direction
What is resistance form?
the ability of the preparation to prevent dislodgement of a restoration to lateral and oblique forces
In what situation is chemical retention using cement/lute good?
good when loaded in compression (2 surfaces pushing against eachother)
What do we mean by “loaded in compression”?
2 surfaces pushing against eachother
What are shearing forces?
when two surfaces are sliding across each other. Crown can slide across tooth due to no proper opposing force.
What is the ideal degree of taper when doing a crown preparation?
- should be near parallel for maximum retention and resistance
- aim for taper of 6 degrees - though clinically 10-20 is more often achieved
- too parallel = risk of undercuts
What does “taper” refer to?
angle of one axial wall in relation to the long axis of the tooth
What does “total occlusal convergence angle” refer to?
taper of one axial wall in relation to the taper of an opposing axial wall, with a reference point being the long axis of the tooth
What are grooves and what is their function in a crown prep?
grooves cut into preparation to stop the crown from being able to rotate round the tooth
In what situation would grooves be necessary?
round preparations and non full coverage restorations may require this kind of additional feature to aid with retention
What kind of reduction is necessary for the placement of a ceramic bonded to metal crown?
- 0.5mm reduction for metal PLUS 1.0mm for ceramic
- therefore, 1.5mm axial reduction
- 1-2mm occlusal reduction
- shoulder margin for ceramic
- chamfer for metal
What kind of preparation is necessary for the placement of a ceramic/composite (all ceramic) crown?
- between 0.6-1mm axial reduction
- between 1-1.5mm occlusal reduction
- chamfer margin
How wide should a chamfer margin be?
0.5mm
Where should a finishing margin be?
ideally
- on sound tooth structure
- below the contact point
- not subgingival
- allow adequate preparation height
What are the main 4 crown preparation stages?
1) occlusal reduction
2) axial reductions (interproximal, lingual/palatal, buccal)
3) finish line
4) smoothing
What is a functional cusp bevel?
- increased reduction on the functioning cusp
- generally on palatal cusp of maxillary teeth and buccal cusp of mandibular teeth
- depends on occlusal relationship
How does the palatal/lingual reduction of an anterior tooth differ from posterior teeth?
-anteriors have a cingulum which tapers off into incisal edge
- initial palatal reduction is just on gingival 1/3 to achieve something almost parallel to buccal side of prep
- then reduce rest of palatal surface/cingulum with rugby ball