Margin placement of esthetic veneer crowns. Part II: Posterior tooth visibility

The amount of posterior tooth visibility was analyzed in a population of 425 subjects. By scoring photographic data, the percentage of posterior teeth that could have a crown margin placed in their occlusal, middle, and gingival sections without showing were calculated. The results of this study indicate that: 1. For esthetic reasons, posterior margin placement should be handled on an individual basis. 2. The routine placement of either supragingival or subgingival margins for esthetics alone on posterior teeth may be over- or under-treating, respectively, a portion of the population. 3. A substantial percentage of the population studied had posterior gingival sections that were visible. A substantial percentage also had gingival sections that were not visible.