title: All-ceramic crown preparations: An alternative technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the crown preparation dimensions produced from two different techniques of preparation for posterior all-ceramic crowns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four fourth year dental students undertook a course of advanced simulation training involving education in an alternative technique of preparation for a 36 all-ceramic crown. Crown preparations performed using the traditional technique were compared with an alternative technique for total occlusal convergence (TOC) and reduction difference (RD) using digital scanning and comparative software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups that spent the most time performing the alternative technique produced crown preparations with significantly lower buccolingual (BL) TOC. The training resulted in crown preparations that were closer to ideal TOC and RD measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alternative technique of crown preparation for a posterior all-ceramic crown showed initial promise in creating a less buccolingually tapered and more ideally occlusally reduced crown preparation.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003442:Crowns; D003479:Curriculum; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004497:Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013335:Students, Dental; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic
chemical_list: D003776:Dental Porcelain
keywords: Crown preparation; dental education; digital scanning; reduction difference; total occlusal convergence