The bonding area of intra- and extra-coronal tooth preparations

To assess the accuracy of preparation surface area measurements (mm2) using the Cerec digital mouth camera in vitro and to analyze a collection of 514 Cerec camera in vivo optical impressions of preparations from 274 patients according to the size of preparation/bonding area (mm2)

The surface area (mm2) of model preparations with known dimensions namely of one occlusal (1) and one mesio-occluso-distal (2) cavity as well as of one central incisor (3) and one molar (4) crown preparation was calculated from linear (a) design dimensions, (b) slide-gauge and (c) coordinate-measuring-machine data as benchmark measurements and from repeated (n=10) (d) laser-scan (control), (e) Cerec-camera mounted on a support, (f) handheld Cerec-camera measurements. Data of (d), (e) and (f) was statistically analyzed. From a collection of data sets clinically recorded with the Cerec camera, the surface areas of 514 preparations from 274 patients were analyzed according to the type of tooth and type of preparation.

Occlusal cavity mm2 data 1(d) 48 +/- 0.4, 1(e) 48 +/- 0.2, 1(f) 48 +/- 0.6 and mod cavity mm2 data 2(d) 137 +/- 2, 2(e) 138 +/- 1, 2(f) 138 +/- 4 did not differ between (d), (e) and (f) (P> 0.05) confirming the hypothesis for inlay cavities. Incisor crown preparation mm2 data 3(d) 82+0.4 differed (P< 0.001) from 3(e) 85 +/- 0.2 and 3(f) 85 +/- 0.6 as well as molar crown preparation mm2 data 4(d) 133 +/- 0.6 differed by 3.5% (P< 0.001) from 4(e) 137 +/- 0.4 and 4f) 138 +/- 1. Clinical cavity and crown preparation area data obtained from in vivo Cerec camera recordings differentiated between type of tooth and type of cavity. 2D data of "classic", "reduced" and "endo" type crown preparations did not differentiate clearly.