CONTACTS

AND
CONTOURS

Dr. Jolene Sequeira

Department of
Conservative Dentistry
and Endodontics
 FLOWCHART
Terminologies

General shape of teeth

Hazards of faulty reproduction of

Contact size
Contact configuration
Contour
Marginal ridge in restoration

Procedures for formulation of proper contact and

contour
 introduction

Restorative Dentistry requires an understanding of

intra-arch contour relationship.

Anatomical factors such as crests of facial and

lingual coronal contour and contact areas must be
evaluated for a restoration to possess contour in
harmony with adjacent teeth.
Contours
The convex bulge on teeth
provides:

protection and stimulation of

supporting tissues during
mastication.

the direction of food flow

during mastication
Over contour Under contour Correct contour
Deflects food from Irritation of soft tissue Adequate stimulation
gingiva

Under stimulation of supporting tissues

supporting tissues

Circulation and growth

of Cariogenic & plaque
ingredients
 Crest of curvature is the highest point of a curve or
greatest convexity or bulge

Location (seen from mesial and distal aspects)

Tooth surface Location

Facial surface of all anterior and posterior teeth cervical third of crown

Lingual surface of all posterior teeth middle third of crown

Lingual surface of all anterior teeth cervical third of crown on

cingulum
Contact areas

Are crest of curvature on proximal surface of tooth crowns

where tooth touches the adjacent tooth in same arch where
teeth are in proper alignment.

On different teeth, contact areas may be in incisal third,

middle third or at junction of incisor or middle third.

Contact areas and contact points.

 Functions

1. It stabilizes the tooth within its alveolus which thereby stabilizes the
dental arches
2. Helps to prevent food impaction, which can lead to decay and
periodontal problem
3. It protects interdental papillae of gingiva by shunting food toward
the buccal and lingual areas.
4. Determines the shape of the gingival concavity between the buccal
and lingual papillae known as col.
Anterior teeth Facial view located closer to the incisal
surface of the teeth
Occlusal view Located in the center between the
labial and lingual surfaces of the
teeth.

Posterior teeth Facial view Located at or near the junction of

the middle third of the teeth
Occlusal view Located slightly buccal to the
centre of the teeth

Maxillary canine Located in the center of the

middle third of the tooth
 Facial aspect

Distal contacts are located more cervically than mesial contacts except
mandibular first premolar (where distal contact is occlusally located)
mandibular central incisor (located at same level)
 Occlusal aspect

Anterior teeth : tooth contacts nearly centered faciolingually

Posterior teeth : contacts are larger than anterior contact areas and
tend to be slightly buccal to the middle third, buccolingually
Marginal Ridges
rounded borders of enamel that form the mesial and distal
margins of occlusal surfaces of premolars and molars and
mesial and distal margins of lingual surfaces of incisor and
canines.

create a pronounced adjacent triangular fossa and an

adjacent occlusal embrasure. It should always be formed in
two planes bucco-lingually, meeting at very obtuse angle

Marginal ridge is essential for balance of teeth in arch, the

prevention of food impaction proximally, protection of
periodontium, prevention of recurrent and contact decay and
for efficient mastication.
Interproximal space/ Embrasure
It is triangular space between adjacent
tooth in relation to the contact.

Side of the triangle are proximal surface of adjacent

teeth and apex of the triangle is the area of contact of two teeth.

Occupied in periodontally healthy persons by interdental papilla.

When teeth contacts there are four continuous space that

surrounds the contact area:
* Facial * Lingual * Occlusal/Incisal* *Gingival
Functions

Maintain tissues against trauma during mastication and

invasion by bacteria
Provides space for bulk of bone thus better anchorage and
support.
Allows vascular support to nourish inter dental bone and
papillary tissue.
It makes a spillway for escape of food during mastication
Permit slight amount of stimulation to the gingiva by frictional
massage of food
1. Incisal and labial are negligible
2. Gingival and lingual embrasures between anterior teeth are the
widest and longest in mouth
3. Buccal embrasures are small
4. Lingual embrasures are long, with medium width
5. Gingival embrasures between posterior teeth are broad and long
 Hazards of faulty
reproduction
Contact area
Size
location
Configuration

Contours
Buccal and lingual convexities
Buccal and lingual concavities

Marginal ridges

Embrasures
Contact size :-
Broad contact
Change in anatomy of interdental col.
Normal saddle shape -> broadened.
Incipient periodontal disease is markedly increased
Embrasures

Improper movement or flow of masticated material

Lead to adhesion of debris and possible impaction of
that debris
Restoration could encroach physicomechanically on the
periodontium predisposing to its destruction
Narrow contact area

Changes anatomy of the tooth.

Allows food to be impacted vertically or horizontally
on the delicate non keratinized epithelial col.
Greater susceptibility for microbial plaque
accumulation which predispose to the same
periodontal and caries problems.
CONTACT AREA
LOCATION
Placed too occlusally
will result in flattened marginal ridge at expense of
the occlusal embrasure

Placed too buccally or lingually

will result in flattened restoration at expense of
buccal
or lingual embrasures.
Placed too gingivally

will increase the depth of occlusal

embrasure at the expense of
contact areas own size and can
impinge upon interdental col.

Loose/ open contact area

creates continuity of embrasures

with each other and with interdental
col
Contact configuration
1.Flatcontact area (deficient convexity) can make contact
area broad buccally, lingually or gingivally

2.Contact area with excessive convexity will decrease the

extent of contact area.
3. Concave contact area
Usually occurs in restoring adjacent teeth simultaneously.
The interlocking between the concavity and adjacent
convexity can immobilize the contacting teeth, depriving
them of normal, stimulating physiologic movements,
resulting in peridontitis or mechanical breakdown.
 Contour
Facial and lingual convexities

over convex curvatures - undisturbed environment for the

accumulation and growth of cariogenic and plaque ingredients at
gingival margin.
Deprives gingiva from massage-stimulating-keratinizing effect of
apical components of the food stream.
 Facial and lingual
concavities

Occlusal to Involved in Deficient will lead to premature

height of occlusal static and concavitie contacts during
contour dynamic relations s mandibular
movements

Excessive can cause extrusion,

concavitie rotation, tilting of
s occlusal cuspal
elements

Apical to Concerned with Deficient over hanging

height of periodontal tissue concavitie restorations
contour health s
Excessive decreased plaque
Areas of proximal contour adjacent to
contact area

include area occlusal, buccal, lingual, and gingival to

contact area.

Fault in restoration of these areas can lead to

restoration overhangs or underhangs and
impingement upon adjacent periodontal structures.
Marginal ridges
a)Absence of marginal ridge in restoration : horizontal
components of forces will tend to drive two teeth away
from each other. And vertical component of forces can
impact food material interproximally.
b. A marginal ridge with an exaggerated occlusal
embrasure : horizontal components of forces will
separate teeth and vertical components will drive debris
interproximally
c.Adjacent marginal ridge not compatible in height :
MR higher than adjacent one will drive the restored tooth
away from the contacting tooth . MR lower than the
adjacent one will drive mainly non restored tooth
away.
d. A marginal ridge with no adjacent triangular fossa:
here, there is no horizontal components to drive the
teeth toward each other, closing the contact. Vertical
force will tend to impact food interproximally.
e. A marginal ridge with no occlusal embrasure : In this
case, the two adjacent marginal ridges will act as pair of
tweezers grasping food passing over it.
f. A one-planed marginal ridge in the bucco-lingual
direction : can create premature contacts during both
functional and static occlusion. It increases the depth of
adjacent triangular fossa magnifying stress in this area. It
increases height of MR in the center, making it amenable
to adverse affect of horizontal component of forces.
g. A thin marginal ridge in its
mesio-distal bulk : will be
susceptible to fracture or
deformation.

h. Marginal ridge not compatible in

dimension or location with rest
of occluding surface
components predisposes to
similar problems.
Embrasures

Decreased or absent
Additional stress created in the teeth and supporting
structures during mastication.
food gets pushed into contact area.

Too large
Little protection to the supporting structures as food is
forced into the interproximal surface by an opposing
cusp
Procedures for the Formulation
of proper Contacts and
Contours
For proper reproduction of previously described physio-
anatomical features of teeth, one of the two operating
acts can be performed

Intraoral procedures Extra oral procedure

1. Tooth 1. Wax pattern

movement

2. Matricing 2. Cast adjustment

Wedges
Define, functions, types (wooden, plastic, light
transmitting; round, triangular), types of
wedging techniques
 Matricing
(matrice, matricing, functions, parts, classification
individual matrices)

Matricing is the procedure whereby a temporary wall is

created opposite to the axial walls, surrounding areas of
tooth that were lost during preparation

It is used with materials that are introduced in plastic

state
Matrix is formed of two parts :
1. Band
2. Retainer
1. Class I cavity with buccal or lingual extension

2. Class II cavity single banded tofflemire, Ivory

no 1,8; compound supported, copper band, T-
band, precountoured sectional, automatrix

3. Class III cavity S shaped, cellophane, mylar

strips

4. Class IV celluloid strips, transparent celluloid

crown forms, dead soft metal matrix strips

5. Class V cavities Window matrix, tin foil

matrix, preformed transparent cervical matrix
Extraoral procedures (for cast
restorations)
The procedure is facilitated and made convenient
through wax pattern and cast adjustments

WAX PATTERNS

This is usually built in a slightly overcontoured

conditions, especially at the contact area to allow
for the finishing and polishing surface losses.

Removable dies make the procedure very feasible

as they will allow additions or removal of small
increments of waxes at or from indicated areas.
CAST ADJUSTMENTS
These are usually be done with rubbery stones incrementally
removing cast material surface wise to obtain the exact
dimensions, configuration and inter relationship of the contact
and contour.

It is partly done on working models, that are mounted on

articulators and partly and finally , intra orally.

Use dental floss around the contact area with its ends pulled
buccally parallel to each other to estimate the occlusoapical
shape and dimensions of the contact area, it is then pulled
occlusally, also parallel to each other, to estimate the
buccolingual dimensions and shape of the contact area
Conclusion

most neglected aspect in restorative dentistry

shouldbe given priority so that the restoration

can serve to its fullest purpose in harmony with
neighboring teeth and supporting tissues.