The construction of crowns for removable partial denture abutment teeth

The construction of crowns for teeth that will serve as abutment teeth for removable partial dentures is an important and technically demanding procedure. The preparation of the tooth itself must include provision for the components and path of placement of the removable partial denture and at the same time conform to all the parameters associated with proper tooth preparation. Some of the factors unique to surveyed crowns that must be considered include the position of the tooth in relation to the proposed occlusal plane with the removable partial denture, the type of facial and lingual tooth contours desired for the direct retainer, the size and suitability of existing restorations, and the proposed path of placement and removal of the removable partial denture relative to the orientation of the abutment tooth as well as to other adjacent teeth if the abutment also is to be used as a fixed partial denture retainer. The design requirements for the removable partial denture must be determined before treatment is initiated, to account for all of these factors.