The philosophies of dowel diameter preparation: a literature review

This article reviewed the literature regarding the diameter of dowels and identified three distinct philosophies of dowel space preparation. One group advocated the narrowest diameter for fabrication of a dowel to a desired length. Another recommended a dowel space with an apical diameter equal to one third of the narrowest dimension of the root at the terminus of the dowel. A third group advised that at least 1 mm of sound dentin should surround the entire surface of the dowel. A combination of the one third and 1 mm minimal philosophies yielded a practical guideline for dowel space preparation, particularly in aged teeth. Requiring a definite amount of tooth structure surrounding the dowel, while adhering to the one third proportion, indicated upper limits on both the diameter and length of the dowel. These calculated limits served as convenient starting points in selecting a specific style of dowel and assisted in determining whether additional measures are warranted to enhance dowel retention.