Fixed Prosthodontics Flashcards
Define, a full coverage extra-coronal indirect restoration which is cemented/luted to a prepared tooth.
A crown
How can a crown be used in conjunction with a partial denture?
Can be used as an abutment to help retain a prosthesis
What is the indication for use of an inlay or onlay over a direct restoration?
Where the tooth structure is insufficient to place a direct restoration.
What is the difference between an inlay and onlay?
- An inlay is placed inside a cavity (bonded within centre of tooth)
- An onlay replaces one or more cusp tips and covers entire occlusal surface
Which indirect restoration is full coverage?
- Inlay
- Onlay
- Crown
- Veneer
- Crown
What are the consequences of inadequate occlusal contacts due to a large direct restoration?
There is an increased risk of restoration fracture and subsequent micro leakage leading to secondary caries
What are the consequences of an inadequate contact point between teeth due to a large direct restoration?
- increased food packing
- difficulty cleaning and maintaining restoration
- risk of secondary caries and periodontal disease
What is the main advantage of being able to articulate a crown prior to placement?
Able to check excursive movements (guidance) are correct
How does placement of a crown help to prevent tooth fracture?
It will direct occlusal forces straight down the long axis of the tooth
What is the first-line treatment for a crack that extends into the pulp of a tooth?
RCT
Why are root treated molar teeth more likely to crack/fracture compared to molar teeth that are not root treated?
The amount of tooth lost due to caries removal and removal of tooth structure due to creation of endo access cavity.
What advantages do crowns as denture abutment teeth have in regards to fit of a removable denture?
Help with:
1. retention
2. resistance
3. support
What type of guide plane should be prescribed for in order to increase retentive factor of crown abutment teeth?
Long guide plane
What are guide planes?
Vertical parallel surfaces of retention teeth and abutments, so oriented that they contribute to the determination of path of insertion and displacement
What is the indication for a conventional bridge to be used?
Where the abutment tooth is heavily restored and you can justify preparing the abutment for a full coverage restoration
What 3 ways can crowns fail? Give an example for each.
- Biological failure (e.g. secondary caries, encroachment of biologic width)
- Mechanical failure (e.g. fracture)
- Aesthetic failure (e.g. visible margin)
What is a classic sign that crowns have invaded biologic width?
Inflammation around gingival margins
What is the “biologic width”?
Width comprised of the junctional epithelium and connective tissue
On average, where does the biological width sit in regards to the crest of the underlying bone?
Sits 3-4mm above the crest of the bone
What is the consequence of encroaching biologic width?
Essentially, crown will fail as the distance between the crown margin and crest of the bone is too short, so the gingiva will reject the restoration - this is shown as inflammation around gingival margins- and the result can be loss of bone around the tooth.
What two ways can crown prep lead to pulp necrosis?
- Exposure of dentinal tubules or pulp can lead to potential ingress of bacteria leading to necrosis
- Heat generation causes trauma leading to necrosis
What are the 5 contraindications of placing a crown?
- Lifestyle factors (e.g. poor OH)
- Active caries/periodontal disease
- Inadequate crown height
- Inadequate access to oral cavity
- When more minimally invasive option is suitable
What are parafunctional habits?
Repetitive behaviour that targets the oral structure (e.g. bruxism)
What are the 4 lifestyle factors that contraindicate crown placement as they are risk factors for active disease?
- High sugar intake
- Poor OH
- Smoking
- Parafunction
What medical conditions might cause inadequate access to the oral cavity for tooth prep or impression taking?
- Systemic sclerosis
- Post-radiation sclerosis
- Post-surgical changes
Why is canine guidance ideal for placement of a crown?
Because you only need to ensure that crown is fitting in ICP.
Why is group function less favourable in regards to placement of a crown?
The crown has to fit in ICP and excursive movements, without causing interference with the guidance pattern. This can be more difficult to achieve compared to canine guidance.
Define, a restoration placed in teeth prior to preparation for an indirect restoration.
A core
In what situation would a core be required prior to placement of an indirect restoration?
If the tooth is heavily restored/broken down
Name 6 materials that can be utilised for direct cores.
- Amalgam
- Composite
- GI
- RMGI
- Compomer
- Metal alloy
True or false?
Amalgam has high initial tensile/compressive strength and is therefore strong in thin section.
False. Amalgam has low initial tensile/compressive strength and is weak in thin section. It is only strong if placed in sufficient bulk.
What are the two main disadvantages of composite resin as a core material?
- Very technique sensitive
- Can be difficult to distinguish between composite and tooth structure when preparing crown margins
If a core material was to be placed in thin section, which material is better to use? Amalgam or composite resin.
Composite resin
What are the 5 disadvantages of using GIC and RMGIs as core materials?
- Low compressive and tensile strength
- Deterioration at low pH
- Sensitivity to moisture
- Can be difficult to distinguish between GIC and tooth structure when preparing crown margins (unless using Fuji pink)
- Not packable which may lead to voids
What are the 4 ways that core retention can be improved?
- Undercut preparation
- Dentine pins
- Adhesive materials (e.g. composite)
- Elective endodontics (pulp chamber and post utilised)
What are the main disadvantages of self-threading pins for retention of a core?
- induce stress
- dentinal crazing
- perforation into Periodontium
Describe the amalgam bonding technique in 7 steps, from cavity prep to placing amalgam.
- Complete cavity preparation
- Place lining if necessary in deep aspects of cavity
- Etch enamel 20 secs, dentine 10 secs
- Rinse and dry - good isolation
- Dentine bonding agent & light cure
- Adhesive resin cement placement on base and walls of cavity
- Pack amalgam onto unset cement
What is a nayyar core?
“A retentive core produced by preparing the coronal 2 to 4 mm of the root canals and slightly undercutting the pulp chamber”
What material is a nayyar core best made from?
Amalgam
What is the benefit of a nayyar core?
Avoids the use of posts
True or false?
It is sensible to place posts in posterior teeth to retain a core.
False, the roots are often narrow and curved in molar teeth, post placement could lead to perforation or root fracture.
What bur should be used for mechanical removal as part of post preparation?
Gates-glidden bur
When preparing space for a post, why should you initially start with the smaller size gates-glidden?
To reduce heat generated and preferential cutting to one side of the post space
Describe the cutting action of a gates-glidden bur?
A blunt, non-cutting tip, used in an up and down motion.
What is the advantage of a ferrule?
Minimises chances of root fracture upon core/crown placement
Give 4 requirements for success of posts.
- Leave 4mm GP apically
- Post must be longer than crown being placed (longer the better)
- Diameter of post apically must be no greater than 1/3rd of root
- Ferrule to crown or core
What is the difference between active and passive posts?
- Active posts have retentive features that engage the root , there is risk with fracture.
- Passive posts passively seat in the canal space and are retained by a luting cement.
Is a threaded post active or passive?
Active
Are serrated and smooth posts passive or active?
Passive
What is the main advantage and disadvantage of threaded posts?
Advantage: very retentive
Disadvantage: higher risk of vertical root fracture
What aspect of a post has the most significant effect on its retention?
Length (longer the more retentive)
What type of post design is more retentive? Parallel-sided posts or tapered posts?
Parallel-sided post
What is the main disadvantage of a parallel-sided post?
More tooth structure must be removed to facilitate its placement compared to a tapered post.
What is the main advantage of a custom made post?
- Good adaptation to the morphology of the prepared canal
- Indicated for use where there is a change in angulation of the core
What are the 2 main advantages of pre-formed serrated posts?
- Parallel sided so better retention
- Less stress in root
Name a self-etching resin luting cement used for post placement.
Rely X Unicem
How would an immature apex be prepared prior to post placement? (4 steps)
- Open and clean canal, dress with CaOH for 2 weeks
- Place MTA as apical plug
- Next visit, etch post space, rinse and dry
- Use bond and composite- insert luminex smooth sided post with Vaseline
What type of post should replace the luminex smooth post in immature root preparation, before a composite core is built up?
quartz fibre post (cemented with adhesive resin)
Why should use of RMGI cores be avoided for use under all ceramic restorations?
The material undergoes hygroscopic expansion which could lead to ceramic fracture
What type of core utilises the shape of an access cavity/pulp to retain a restoration, meaning that a post is not required?
Nayyar core
What is the main disadvantage of stainless steel and brass posts?
They can form corrosion products within the post space that can lead to discolouration of the root, compromising aesthetics.
What is the disadvantages of a titanium post?
Fracture easily and have same radiopacity as gutta percha so are difficult to see on a radiograph and can make re-treatment RCT cases more difficult.
What is the minimum required height of a ferrule?
2mm
Name 3 indirect, extra-coronal fixed prostheses.
- Crowns (full/partial coverage)
- Veneers
- Onlays
Name 2 indirect, intra-coronal fixed prostheses.
- Inlays
- Onlays
Name the boundaries of the three dimensional space that an extra-coronal restoration has to occupy.
- the proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth
- the occlusal surfaces of the opposing tooth/teeth
- the soft tissues buccally and lingually/palatally
What are the consequences of an over-contoured crown?
Risk of being difficult to clean so at higher risk of secondary caries and periodontal disease
What are the boundaries of the three-dimensional space that an intra-coronal restoration (inlay) must occupy?
- the proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth
- the occlusal surface of the opposing tooth/teeth
- the tooth preparation buccally and lingually/palatally
What are the 6 principles of tooth preparation?
- Conservation of tooth tissue
- Resistance form
- Retention form
- Structural durability
- Marginal integrity
- Preservation of Periodontium
What is the statistic for the number of vital teeth prepared for crowns that subsequently need root canal therapy due to pulpal damage?
Up to 20%
When preparing tooth tissue for a crown, what two things should be avoided during your preparation so that retention isn’t compromised?
- Avoid over-tapering prep
- Avoid cutting too much occlusally as prep will be short
What are the issues that can arise during tooth prep if you under-prepare tooth structure?
- Inadequate thickness of material from crown Which can impair aesthetics
- Inadeqaute strength of restoration when placed
What are the issues that can arise during tooth prep if you don’t prepare enough and overbuild the crown?
- Crown will be large and bulbous, aesthetically displeasing
- Over-contoured gingival margins create plaque traps
Define, the ability of the preparation to retain a restoration in an occlusal direction.
Retention form
Define, the ability of the preparation to prevent dislodgement of a restoration to lateral and oblique forces.
Resistance form
When is chemical retention of a crown with luting cement best achieved?
When crown has tall preparation and is loaded in compression (two surfaces pushing against each other in equal force)
In what scenario is chemical retention of a crown with luting cement inadequately achieved?
When tooth preparation is short/tapered so there are less compressive forces and more shearing forces (tooth surfaces slide against each other)
What are the two terms used to describe how tapered a tooth is?
- Taper
- Total occlusal convergence angle
For maximum retention and resistance, in what position should the ideal preparation taper be?
NEAR Parallel to the long axis of the tooth
What is meant by taper?
Refers to the angle of one axial wall in relation to the long axis of the tooth
What is meant by total occlusal convergence angle?
The taper of one axial wall in relation to the taper of the opposing axial wall, with the reference line being the long axis of the tooth.
If the taper is too parallel, what are the consequences?
- Risk of undercuts
- More difficult to place and remove crown on/off tooth
What is the ideal taper to be aimed for in degrees when preparing tooth?
6 degrees
In round preparations and non full coverage preparations, what additional feature may they require to help with retention and why?
Grooves, to help stop the crown from rotating around the tooth.
Why do you always need more tooth reduction occlusally in your preparation?
To help resist the occlusal forces in function of the restoration
What is the tooth reduction required for a metal crown, axial and occlusal?
Axial = 0.5mm
Occlusal = 1mm
What type of margin should be used for reduction when intending to place a metal crown?
Chamfer margin
What is the tooth reduction required for a metal-ceramic crown, axial and occlusal?
Axial:
Metal: 0.5mm
Ceramic: 1mm
Occlusal:
Metal: 0.5mm
Ceramic: 1-2mm