Operative Dentistry Series – Part 1 (Bonded Crown Preparations and Impressions)

Performance Smiles’ Dr Rich Blake Smith attends the first in a series of Clinical practicals as part of a year long Postgraduate Certificate in Operative Dentistry (PG Cert OP Dent).

The first of ten modules covered the fundamentals of preparing anterior (front) teeth and posterior (back) teeth for bonded crowns. Bonded crowns are made of tooth coloured porcelain and metal and can provide long lasting, strong and aesthetic results when used in the right situations. By understanding tooth anatomy and function, preparations can be planned that conserve as much tooth tissue as possible to achieve the desired end result. Practice makes better – Below is a snap shot of some of the training conducted at the Denhill phantom head suite in Manchester. Our dental gymnasium.

When teeth are chipped, stained, unaesthetic or their structural integrity is compromised, then a crown may be required to protect, restore function and form.

There are many different types of full coverage crown materials available in the dentists armamentarium but the choice depends on a number of factors. These include the functional environment in which they will exist, the available tooth tissue and patient preference. The next session on the PG Cert in Operative Dentistry will delve into porcelain veneers which can provide aesthetic improvements to front teeth.