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.

BIOLOGICAL
Considerations
MECHANICAL
Considerations
AESTHETIC
Considerations
1
Conservation of tooth structure
2
Prevention against damage
3
Harmonious Occlusion
4
Protection against Tooth fracture

5
Considerations affecting future dental
health
i. Axial Reduction
ii. Margin Placement
iii. Margin Adaptation
iv. Margin Geometry
v. Margin Designs
Principles of tooth preparation
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.

Marginal discrepancies disrupt
smooth surface thus vulnerable to
plaque accumulation leading to
secondary caries & micro leakage
at the margins.
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
metal crowns , small crowns and
already designed margins by
previous dentist.
Over contoured restorations.
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 sub-
gingival 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 metal-
only 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 sloped-
shoulder 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
Various margins
under SEM
Summary of margins

CRITERIA FOR MARGIN
SELECTION
Shoulder
Shoulder bevel
Slope shoulder
Shoulder
Shoulder bevel
Shoulder
design with a
porcelain labial
margin.
Summary
Various finish lines in FPD are
discussed
Right selection of margin type depends
upon the choice of the restoration.
Margins are the primary factor in
determining the success of the final
restoration.
Right geometry and design places them
at the apex of principles of preparation.