“The terminal

portion of a
prepared tooth.”

“The peripheral extension

of a tooth preparation.”
 • Conservation of tooth structure
1

• Prevention against damage

2

• Harmonious Occlusion
3
BIOLOGICAL
Considerations • Protection against Tooth fracture
4

• Considerations affecting future dental

5 health

AESTHETIC MECHANICAL i. Axial Reduction

Considerations Considerations
ii. Margin Placement
iii. Margin Adaptation
iv. Margin Geometry
v. Margin Designs
 MARGIN PLACEMENT

SUPRAGINGIVAL SUBGINGIVAL
MARGINS MARGINS
 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 less potential for soft
tissue damage.

 Restorations can be easily

evaluated at recall appointments.
 Dental caries, cervical erosion, or
restorations extend sub-gingivally, and a
crown lengthening procedure is not
indicated.

 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 tooth.

 Root sensitivity cannot be controlled by

more conservative procedures, such as the
application of dentin bonding agents.

 Modification of the axial contour is

indicated.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Conservation of Fail to provide

tooth structure. 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 Over contoured

used for full restorations.
veneer metal
crowns , small
crowns and
already designed
margins by
previous dentist.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Allows room for An acute angle is

porcelain  likely to chip.
recommended Placement of
for facial part of margin deep into
the metal the gingival
ceramic crowns. sulcus.

It is less
conservative of
tooth structure.
 n.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Particularly suitable for Tilting it away from the
cast metal crowns and tooth will create an
the metal-only portion of undercut; angling it towards
metal-ceramic crowns. the tooth will lead to over-
reduction and loss of
retention.
Distinct and easily Marginal accuracy depends
identified, provides room upon having high quality
for adequate bulk of diamond and a true running
material. hand-piece.
Can be placed with Chamfer should never be
precision, although care prepared wider than half
is needed to avoid the tip of the diamond 
leaving a ledge of an unsupported lip of
unsupported enamel. enamel can result.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Recommended for facial surface Less preferred to
of a metal-ceramic restoration shoulder or sloped-
where a metal collar (as opposed shoulder for
to a porcelain labial margin) is biologic and
used. 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.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
A beveled margin, under certain When access for
circumstances, is more suitable burnishing is
for cast restoration  particularly limited, there is
if a ledge or shoulder already little advantage in
exists. beveling.
The objective in beveling is three In cases of gingival
fold: margins  beveling
•To allow the cast metal margin to would lead to
be bent or burnished against the subgingival
prepared tooth structure. extension of the
•To minimize the marginal preparation or
discrepancy caused by a complete placement of the
crown that fails to seat margin on dentin
completely. rather than on
•To protect the unprepared tooth enamel.
structure from chipping (e.g. by
removing unsupported tooth
enamel).
I. Guiding grooves or depth orientation grooves (on
both facial and incisal surfaces).

II. Labial reduction (first gingival third and then incisal

third).

III. Incisal or occlusal reduction (if required).

IV. Proximal reduction (not beyond contacts).

V. Lingual reduction (enhances mechanical retention

and increases surface area for bonding).

VI. Finishing of all prepared surfaces.

 Shoulder
Shoulder bevel
Slope shoulder

Shoulder
Shoulder bevel

Shoulder design
with a porcelain
labial margin.