Review of methods for removing cast gold restorations

Most techniques and devices described for crown removal, in one way or another, destroy the integrity of today's precision cast crowns. There were only three techniques described that do not require drilling a hole, cutting a notch or slot, clamping with claws or jaws, prying with instruments, or grasping with forceps and pliers. These are the copper band filled with cement, the coping of cold-curing acrylic resin, and the Richwil crown remover. The safest and least traumatic of all crown removal devices and techniques is to cut a slot and pry the crown loose. Although the crown is destroyed, damage to the tooth is avoided.