Analysis of occlusal clearance of crown preparations in a predoctoral clinical setting

This study sought to assess the presence and location of inadequate tooth preparation performed by predoctoral dental students by scanning mounted casts submitted for monolithic zirconia crown fabrication METHODS: An intraoral scanner capable of volumetric measurements of crown preparations was used to analyze 56 crown preparations on mounted stone casts before submission to a lab for crown fabrication. The mounted casts were scanned individually and then a buccal bite was scanned to stitch the models together into virtual occlusion. The distance between the crown preparations and opposing dentition was displayed volumetrically, and the minimum clearance of each preparation was recorded for both the functional and non-functional cusps. Preparations were evaluated for adequate interocclusal clearance and comparisons were made using a Chi-square test with α = 0.05 with respect to tooth location, functional versus nonfunctional cusp, and or single versus multi-unit preparation.

Over 47% of mounted casts with crown preparations analyzed for the study exhibited a lack of occlusal clearance in at least one area. Functional cusps were more often under-reduced than non-functional (p < 0.001). No other comparisons were statistically significant.

The present study demonstrates a high percentage of under-reduced crown preparations in a predoctoral clinic and emphasizes the utility of quality control and analysis via digital scanning of crown preparations prior to crown fabrication.