PREPARATIONS FOR

PARTIAL COVERAGE
CROWNS

PRESENTED BY
A B H I J E E T PAT R A
A partial coverage crown is a conservative dental restoration option that
preserves more of the tooth structure than a full coverage crown. It is
recommended when possible because it maintains the natural integrity of the
tooth, supports gingival health, and reduces the risk of pulpal problems.

Key points:
•Conserves Tooth Structure: Requires less tooth destruction compared to a
full coverage crown.
•Selective Coverage: Avoids covering intact tooth surfaces unless necessary
for retention, strength, or aesthetics.
•Natural Appearance: No technician can perfectly replicate the untouched
enamel's texture and appearance.
•Gingival Health: Supragingival margins protect gingival
health.

•Reduced Pulpal Problems: A tooth with a full coverage

crown is about 2.5 times more likely to have pulpal issues
than one with a partial coverage crown.

•First Consideration: Partial coverage restoration should

be the first choice when a cast restoration is needed.
•Retention and Coverage: Full coverage
crowns should only be used if partial crowns are
insufficient.

•Margin Concerns: Reluctance to use three-

quarter crowns due to additional margins is
unfounded since vertical margins fit better than
horizontal ones.
 •Tooth Structure Preservation: Spares
Advantages of more of the natural tooth.
partial coverage •Margin Accessibility: Dentist can finish
restorations: and patient can clean much of the margin.
•Reduced Periodontal Irritation: Less
margin near the gingival crevice.
•Ease of Cementation: Easier to seat
completely compared to full coverage
crowns.
•Verification of Seating: Visibility of
some margin allows easier verification of
complete seating.
•Pulp Testing: Allows access to
unveneered enamel for electric pulp tests.
PARTIAL COVERAGE CROWNS, WHILE LESS RETENTIVE THAN FULL
COVERAGE CROWNS, CAN STILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE RETENTION FOR
SPECIFIC DENTAL RESTORATIONS. THESE RESTORATIONS ARE
SUITABLE FOR SINGLE CROWNS AND SHORT-SPAN FIXED PARTIAL
DENTURES, WITH CERTAIN DESIGN FEATURES COMPENSATING FOR
THEIR REDUCED RETENTION AND RESISTANCE.
•Retention: Partial coverage crowns are less
retentive than full coverage crowns but provide
adequate retention for single restorations and
short-span fixed partial denture retainers.

•Compensatory Features: A preparation feature,

like a groove, is needed to compensate for the
retention and resistance lost by not covering an
axial surface.
•Groove Design: Effective grooves must have definite
lingual walls.

•Torquing Resistance: Achieved by a lingual hook or lock

effect, directing the bur and groove slightly to the opposite
corner of the tooth.

•Retention and Resistance: A V-shaped groove without a

definite lingual wall offers significantly less retention (68%)
and resistance (57%) compared to a concave groove with
a lingual wall.
Maxillary Posterior Three-Quarter
Crowns

The standard three-quarter crown is a popular partial

coverage crown that leaves the facial surface uncovered. It's
aesthetically pleasing for maxillary posterior teeth and
suitable for moderate esthetic needs, as the metal won't be
visible in normal conversation. However, it may not satisfy
patients who want completely invisible metal.
Technique Occlusal Reduction
•Initial Step: Depth-orientation grooves are cut on the anatomical
ridges and grooves of the occlusal surface using a round-end
tapered diamond.

•Depth: 1.5 mm clearance on the occlusal surface.

•Groove Placement: Grooves should be 1.5 mm deep on respective

cusps, extending through the occlusofacial line angle, but only 0.5
mm deep there.

•Completion: Remove the tooth structure between the grooves to

reproduce the geometric inclined-plane pattern of the cusps. Depth
decreases at the occlusofacial line angle to minimize metal display.
11
Functional Cusp Bevel:

•Bevel Creation: Holding the round-end tapered diamond at a 45-degree angle,

place three to five depth-orientation grooves on the lingual or outer incline of
the lingual cusp.

•Depth: 1.5 mm deep at the cusp tip, fading out at the apical end.

•Completion: Remove the tooth structure between the grooves with the same
diamond. The bevel extends from the central groove on the mesial to the central
groove on the distal, creating space for metal on the lingual-facing incline of
the lingual cusp to match the space on the facial-facing incline from the
occlusal reduction.
Finishing:
•Use a no. 171L bur or fine-grit round-
end tapered diamond to smooth the
occlusal reduction and functional cusp
bevel.
Axial Reduction Steps:
1.Lingual Surface Reduction:
•Use a coarse-grit tapered torpedo diamond.
•Avoid overinclining the lingual wall.

2.Interproximal Extension:
•Extend the cut interproximally on each side without nicking
adjacent teeth.

3.Chamfer Finish Line Formation:

•Create a chamfer finish line during axial reduction.
•Ensure a smooth, continuous transition from the lingual to the
proximal surface.
•Avoid sharp angles in the axial reduction or chamfer.
15
Proximal Access and Axial Reduction:

Initial Access:
•Use a short needle diamond in an up-and-down sawing motion from the
lingual side.

•Continue facially until contact with the adjacent tooth is broken and
maneuvering space is created.
Final Extension:
•Use the short needle diamond or, in esthetically critical areas, a 15-
8-8 bi-angle chisel for maxillary teeth or a 15-8-14 enamel hatchet
for mandibular teeth.
•Ensure the gingivofacial angle is not underextended to prevent
failure.
•Intermediate Instrument:
•Use a coarse-grit flame diamond for minimal proximal clearance.
•Follow with a coarse-grit tapered torpedo diamond to complete
the axial reduction and form a chamfer.

Finishing:
•Finish the axial wall and chamfer with a fine-grit tapered torpedo
diamond of the same size and configuration.
Proximal Groove Preparation:
Initial Groove Size:
•Approximately the size of a no. 171L bur.
•Inexperienced students may start with a no. 169L bur, then use a
no. 170L bur for adjustments.

Lingual Wall Creation:

•Cut the groove to the full diameter of the bur to ensure a definite
lingual wall.

Outline Form:
•Draw the groove outline on the occlusal surface with a sharp
pencil.
Template Creation:
•Cut a 1.0 mm deep template following the pencil outline.

Groove Extension:
•Extend the groove to half its length using the template as a guide,
aligning the bur with the path of insertion.
•If properly aligned, extend the groove to its full length, ending about 0.5
mm occlusal to the chamfer.
20
Groove and Flare Preparation:
Groove Placement:
•Place grooves as facially as possible without undermining the
facial surface.
•Align grooves with the long axis of a posterior tooth.

Order of Grooving:
•Begin with the distal surface of molars and the mesial surface of
premolars.

Alignment Adjustment:
•If a problem arises with the first groove, adjust the second groove
in a more accessible area or in a way that doesn't affect aesthetics.
Alignment Aid:
Use a bur in the first groove as a guide while making the second groove.

Creating a Flare:
Cut a flare from the groove outward using the tip of a flame diamond to
remove equal amounts of the facial wall and outer tooth surface.
Ensure the flare is accessible for cleaning but doesn't show noticeable
metal.

Smoothing the Flare:

Smooth the flare with a fine-grit flame diamond and then a carbide bur
matching the flame diamond's shape.
Use short, crisp strokes to prevent rounding of the finish line.
In critical facial areas, a wide enamel chisel can be used to form the
flare.
23
Occlusal Offset and Bevel
Preparation:
Occlusal Offset:
•Create a 1.0-mm-wide ledge on the lingual incline of the facial cusp
using a no. 171L bur.
•The offset forms an inverted V, uniformly distanced from the finish
line.
•Provides space for a metal truss that reinforces the grooves.

Rounded Angles:
•Round the angle between the upright wall of the offset and the lingual
slope of the facial cusp.
•Remove any sharp corners between the lingual inclines of the facial
cusp and the flares.
Bevel Placement:
•Use a fine-grit flame diamond and a no. 171L bur to place a 0.5-
mm bevel along the facio-occlusal finish line.
•The bevel should be perpendicular to the path of insertion.
•Round over the mesial and distal corners, blending into the
proximal flares.
26
Modifications of Posterior Partial Coverage Crowns:
Three-Quarter Crown with Proximal Boxes:
•More retentive than a standard preparation with grooves.
•Justifiable only if there has been proximal caries or previous restorations
due to its destructive nature.
•Four grooves can augment retention and resistance, nearly as effective
as two boxes.
Three-Quarter Crown on Mandibular Teeth:
•Similar to maxillary preparation with a difference in the location of the
occlusal finish line on the facial surface.
•Includes an occlusal shoulder on the facial cusp(s) to tie grooves
together and strengthen the facio-occlusal margin.
•No offset needed on the lingual inclines of mandibular facial cusps.
Seven-Eighths Crown:
•Vertical distofacial margin is positioned mesial to the middle of the
facial surface.
•Offers good esthetics and better resistance than the three-quarter
crown.
•Facilitates easy preparation, margin finishing, and cleaning.
•Commonly used on maxillary molars, but also suitable for mandibular
premolars and molars.
•Ideal for teeth with distal facial surface caries or decalcification and as
a fixed partial denture retainer.
Reverse Three-Quarter Crown:
•Used on mandibular molars to preserve an intact lingual surface.
•Useful for fixed partial denture abutments with severe lingual
inclinations.
•Grooves at linguoproximal line angles are joined by an occlusal
offset on the facial slope of the lingual cusps.
•Resembles maxillary three-quarter crown preparation as the axial
surface of the nonfunctional cusp is uncovered.
Proximal Half Crown:
•A three-quarter crown rotated 90 degrees, leaving the distal surface intact.
•Suitable as a retainer on tilted mandibular molar fixed partial denture abutments
in mouths with excellent hygiene and low interproximal caries incidence.
•Contraindicated if there is a blemish on the distal surface.
•Mesial surface parallels the path of insertion of the mesial abutment
preparation.
•Features 1.5 mm occlusal reduction terminating at the distal marginal ridge,
grooves paralleling the mesial surface, a heavy channel or occlusal offset
connecting the grooves, and an occlusal isthmus to augment retention and
rigidity.
Anterior Three-Quarter Crowns

Decline of Anterior Three-Quarter Crown:

•Demand to avoid metal display.
•Easier preparation for metal-ceramic crowns.
•Poor aesthetics in some restorations led to unpopularity.

Pin-Modified Three-Quarter Crown:

•Minimizes metal display using pins.
Well-Executed Standard Three-Quarter Crown:
•Suitable for maxillary incisors or canines as retainers for short-span fixed
partial dentures.
•Best for thick, square anterior teeth with substantial faciolingual bulk.

Key Factors for Minimal Metal Display:

•Path of insertion and groove placement:
•Path parallels incisal one-half to two-thirds of the labial surface.
•Grooves have a slight lingual inclination.
•Placement and instrumentation of extensions:
•Proximal extensions done with thin diamonds or hand instruments from a
lingual approach to minimize metal display.
Technique
•Lingual Reduction:
•Use coarse-grit football-shaped and ball-shaped diamonds.
•Create 0.7 mm or more clearance.
•Depth-orientation cuts ensure adequate reduction.
•Two-plane reduction on canines, smooth concave surface on
incisors.

Incisal Reduction:
•Use medium-grit long needle diamond.
•Reduction depth about 0.7 mm near the incisal edge.
34
•Lingual Axial Reduction:
•Use coarse-grit tapered torpedo diamond.
•Create chamfer finish line.
•Essential for retention; a short cingulum may require additional
retention methods.
•Proximal Reduction:
•Start with medium-grit long needle diamond from the lingual.
•Use enamel hatchet or chisel to complete labial proximal extensions.

Groove Placement:
•Use no. 169L and 170L burs.
•Draw outlines, start with a 1.0-mm-deep template.
•Extend grooves parallel to the incisal surface.
•Proximal Flares:
•Use flame diamond and bur to create and finish flares.
•Ensure smooth flare and sharp finish line.

•Incisal Offset:
•Use no. 171L bur to connect grooves.
•Maintain uniform distance from the incisal edge.

•Incisal Bevel:
•Place a 0.5-mm-wide bevel using no. 170L bur.
•Finish bevel with a flame diamond and bur for sharp finish line.
37
Additional Features:
•Careful finishing causes light reflection, blending incisal edges with the
dark oral cavity background.
•Retentive pins may be used for additional retention, with specific drilling
and impression techniques.
39