Course Title:
Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics I
Course Code: PRO 221
Topic of Lecture : Principles of tooth
preparation
Lecturer: Dr. Marwa Wahsh
Post :Professor of Fixed Prosthodontics
F A C U L T Y O F D e n t i s t r y
T h e F u t u r e S t a r t s H e r e
F A L L 2 0 2 3
RETENTION AND RESISTANCE
TO DISPLACEMENT
Retention form
• Is the quality of a
preparation that prevents
the removal of the
restoration along its path of
withdrawal or long axis i.e.
resisting vertical forces in
centric movements.
Resistance form
• Is the quality of the preparation that prevents
displacement of restoration by forces directed
in any direction rather than the tooth long axis
i.e. oblique and horizontal forces during
eccentric movements.
Retentive features
1. Frictional retention between opposing walls
Frictional retention between the opposing axial
surfaces:
A. Degree of occlusal convergence
Degree of occlusal convergence
• Theoretically, maximum retention comes from
complete parallelism of opposing axial walls.
• However, some taper between (2-6°) is necessary to
avoid undercuts and allow for complete seating of
restoration
• Increasing the taper (convergence angle) decrease
the retention.
Frictional retention between the opposing
axial surfaces:
B. Occluso-gingival height of the preparation:
• Increasing the length of the preparation → increase
surface area of frictional retention → increasing the
retention.
Frictional retention between the opposing
axial surfaces:
Diameter of the preparation:
• Increasing the diameter of the preparation
increases the surface area and thus increases
retention.
Retentive features
2. Axial grooves
Axial grooves:
1. V-shaped grooves: Least retention-
used with teeth with thin labiolingual
dimension as lower anteriors and upper
laterals.
2. U-shaped grooves: Are for universal
use, providing adequate retention.
3. Box shaped grooves: Are the most
retentive and least conservative. They
are used in cases of proximal caries or
in the presence of a soldered connector
Axial grooves:
• The longer and less divergent
the groove the more the
retention
Pinholes:
The longer and less divergent the pinholes the more the
retention
Post hole in the prepared root canal
The longer and less divergent
the post, the more the retention.
Added means of retention
Grooves and pinholes
Can be used in cases of full coverage
preparations as added means of retention as in
cases of short non-retentive crowns preparations
Magnitude of dislodging forces
Dislodging forces such as;
• Sticky food e.g. caramel
• Using dental floss under bridge connector
• Magnitude of dislodging forces is directly
proportional to the stickiness of food, restoration
texture (Smooth surface texture is essential to
prevent plaque accumulation) and restoration
surface area (Restoration of less S.A. is more
liable to dislodgement).
Roughness of fitting surface of
restoration
• Air abrading (sandblasting) the
restoration fitting surface with 50 μm
alumina particles → increase retention
by 64%.
Materials being cemented
The more reactive the alloy, the more
adhesion of the cement to it,
Therefore
Base metal alloys have higher retention
than high-gold content alloys.
Factors affecting the retention form:
• Magnitude of dislodging forces.
• Geometry of the prepared tooth
• Taper.
• Length (Surface area).
• Stress concentration.
• Preparation features (grooves and pinholes)
• Roughness of fitting surface of
restoration.
• Materials being cemented.
• Type and film thickness of luting cement.
Resistance form
• Is the quality of the preparation that prevents
displacement of restoration by forces directed
in any direction rather than the tooth long axis
i.e. oblique and horizontal forces during eccentric
movements.
Resistance form
• Lateral forces displace the
restoration by causing
rotation around the gingival
margin along an imaginary
line called "Tipping path".
Center of
rotation
Resistance to displacement
Resistance form
• Rotation is prevented by tooth structure lying
outside the tipping path called "Resistance
area".
Resistance area decreases as the preparation
taper increases
Resistance form
Occluso-gingival
height of the
preparation:
• Increasing the length
of the preparation →
increase resistance
area → increasing the
resistance to
displacement.
Resistance form
• When the line of action of
the applied force passes
within the margin of the
restoration, no lifting forces
are produced.
• When the line of action of
the applied force passes
outside the margin of the
restoration, a torque is
produced that will tend to
rotate the crown around the
margin.
For a longer crown the same forces produce a
greater torque because its line of action
passes farther from the point of rotation
Therefore, occlusal reduction should not
exceed 1/3 the occluso-gingival height.
Resistance & tooth width (Diameter)
Teeth with smaller diameters provide better resistance form when other factors are constant.
Short tooth preparations with large diameters were found to have very little resistance form.
In general, molar teeth require more parallel preparation than do premolar or anterior teeth to achieve
adequate resistance form.
axial grooves
• Increasing the length
of the groove will
increase resistance
as the tooth
structure lingual to
the groove will resist
the displacing
forces.
Axial grooves
Placing the groove more buccally will give enough
tooth structure lingual to the groove that will resist
the displacing force
AXIAL GROOVES
• The lingual walls of
the grooves provide
resistance to
rotation by blocking
the arc of rotation.
axial grooves:
The depth of the grooves: U-shaped and box-
shaped grooves resist displacing forces better
than v-shaped grooves
Magnitude and direction of
dislodging forces
• Para functional habits (e.g. Bruxism) → increase
oblique and lateral forces.
Stress concentration
• Stress is concentrated at the junction of axial and
occlusal surfaces along the cement layer
• Therefore Roundation of line angles should be done
→ decreasing stress → increasing retention.
• However over-roundation of axial line angles →
decrease resistance.
Physical properties of luting cement
• Cement with high compressive strength and high
modulus of elasticity → increase resistance.
Example
• Zinc phosphate, Glass ionomer and Resin cements
Factors affecting the retention
form:
• Magnitude of dislodging forces.
• Geometry of the prepared tooth
• Taper.
• Length (Surface area).
• Stress concentration.
• Preparation features (grooves and pinholes)
• Roughness of fitting surface of
restoration.
• Materials being cemented.
• Type and film thickness of luting cement.
Factors affecting the resistance of restoration to
displacement
• Magnitude and direction of dislodging forces.
• Geometry of the prepared tooth
• Taper.
• Length.
• diameter
• Preparation features (grooves and pinholes)
• Physical properties of luting cement
Preventing Deformation
[Structural Durability]
• Factors affecting structural durability
• Proper alloy selection.
• Margin design.
• Adequate tooth reduction
• Occlusal.
• Axial.
• Functional cusp bevel.
The occlusal reduction must follow the occlusal
morphology
Flat occlusal preparation will result in either:
1. Insufficient clearance (Perforation might occur at thin areas)
2. Excessive amount of reduction (Affect retention and resistance,
in addition to loss of sound tooth structure, affecting pulp health)
Functional Cusp Bevel
On the posterior teeth, the functional
cusp bevel is placed at an angle of
approximately 45 degrees to the long
axis of the prepared tooth. This
ensures the necessary clearance over
the functional cusp. It provides
enough bulk for the material at the
area of occlusal contact with the
opposing tooth.
Adequate axial reduction
Insufficient axial reduction results in:
b. Too thin crown walls which can lead to distortion.
c. Overcontoured restorations that affect plaque control. This may cause periodontal
disease or dental caries
