By Dr.

Amit Sadhwani

Contents
Introduction
Definitions
Guidelines for margin preparation
Types of finish lines for full veneer
crowns
Summary of types of margins
Criteria for selection
Conclusion
References

Introduction
Charles Henry Land- Porcelain Jacket
crowns, as early as 1880s.
Biologic,
Mechanical,
Esthetic, and
Psychological advantages
of preserving coronal tooth structure were
first presented.
Specific details later presented by Spalding
and Land in 1904. The shoulder finish line.

Definitions: GPT -5
Margin:
The outer edge of a crown,
inlay, onlay, or other
restoration.
The boundary surface of a
tooth preparation and/or
restoration is termed the finish
line or finish curve.
The terminal portion of the
prepared tooth.
Peripheral extension of a tooth
preparation.

Principles of tooth preparation

1
2

BIOLOGICAL

Considerations

Conservation of tooth structure

Prevention against damage
Harmonious Occlusion

Protection against Tooth fracture

4
5

AESTHETIC
Considerations

MECHANICAL
Considerations

Considerations affecting future dental

health

i.

Axial Reduction

ii.

Margin Placement

iii. Margin Adaptation

iv.

Margin Geometry

v.

Margin Designs

Shillingberg
Marginal Integrity: To prepare a finish
line to accommodate a robust margin
with close adaptation to minimize micro
leakage
Preservation of periodontium: To shape
the preparation such that the crown is
not over contoured and its margin is
accessible for optimal oral hygiene.

Supragingival margin

Easier to prepare
accurately without trauma
to the soft tissues.
Usually situated on hard
enamel.
They can be easily
finished.
They are more easily kept
clean.
Impressions are more
easily made with soft tissue
damage.
Restorations can be easily
evaluated on recall
appointment.

Subgingival margin

Dental carries, cervical erosion or restorations

extend subgingivally and the crown
lengthening procedure is not included.
The proximal contact area extends to the
gingival crest.
Additional retention is needed.
The margin of metal ceramic crown is to be
hidden behind the labiogingival crest.
It is also used to produce a cervical crown
ferrule on endodontically treated teeth.
Root sensitivity cannot be controlled by more
conservative procedures, such as the
application of dentin bonding agents.
Modification of the axial contour is indicated.

Guidelines for margin

design
Ease of preparation without
overextension or unsupported enamel
Ease of identification in the impression
and on the die
A distinct boundary to which the wax
pattern can be finished
Sufficient bulk of material
Conservation of tooth structure

FEATHER-EDGE/ SHOULDERLESS/
KNIFE EDGE

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Conservation of tooth structure.

Fail to provide adequate bulk at

margins (to enable the wax pattern to
be handled without distortion and to
give the restoration strength and,
when porcelain is used, esthetics).

This margin is used for full veneer Over contoured restorations.

metal crowns , small crowns and
already designed margins by
previous dentist.

BEVEL
ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

A beveled margin, under certain

circumstances, is more suitable for
cast restoration particularly if a
ledge or shoulder already exists.

When access for

burnishing is limited,
there is little
advantage in
beveling.

The objective in beveling is three

fold:
To allow the cast metal margin to
be bent or burnished against the
prepared tooth structure.
To minimize the marginal
discrepancy caused by a complete
crown that fails to seat completely.
To protect the unprepared tooth
structure from chipping (e.g. by
removing unsupported tooth
enamel).

In cases of gingival
margins beveling
would lead to subgingival extension of
the preparation or
placement of the
margin on dentin
rather than on
enamel.

CHAMFER
n.
ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Particularly suitable for cast

metal crowns and the metalonly portion of metal-ceramic
crowns.

Tilting it away from the tooth will

create an undercut; angling it
towards the tooth will lead to
over-reduction and loss of
retention.

Distinct and easily identified,

provides room for adequate
bulk of material.

Marginal accuracy depends

upon having high quality
diamond and a true running
hand-piece.

Can be placed with precision,

although care is needed to
avoid leaving a ledge of
unsupported enamel.

Chamfer should never be

prepared wider than half the tip
of the diamond an
unsupported lip of enamel can
result.

SHOULDER / BUTT JOINT

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Allows room for

porcelain
recommended for
facial part of the
metal ceramic
crowns.

An acute angle is
likely to chip.
Placement of
margin deep into
the gingival sulcus.
It is less
conservative of
tooth structure.

SHOULDER WITH BEVEL

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Recommended for facial surface of a

metal-ceramic restoration where a
metal collar (as opposed to a
porcelain labial margin) is used.

Less preferred to
shoulder or slopedshoulder for biologic
and esthetic reasons.

Removes unsupported enamel and

allows some finishing of the metal.

Allows improved esthetics because

metal margin can be trimmed down a
knife-edge and hidden in the sulcus
without the need for positioning the
margin closer to the epithelial
attachment.

SLOPED SHOULDER

Placement of margins with

respect to gingival crevice

Summary of margins

CRITERIA FOR MARGIN

SELECTION
Shoulder
Shoulder bevel
Slope shoulder

Shoulder
Shoulder bevel

Shoulder
design with a
porcelain labial
margin.