Journal of Dentistry
Volume 35, Issue 11 , Pages 875-877, November 2007

Mathematical modeling of molar tooth preparations for complete crowns

  • Daniel C.N. Chan

      Affiliations

    • Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Division of Operative Dentistry, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-1260, USA. Tel.: +1 706 721 2881; fax: +1 706 721 8349.
    • ,
  • Benjamin H.W. Chan

      Affiliations

    • Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, USA
    • ,
  • Albert K.H. Chung

      Affiliations

    • University of Washington, School of Dentistry, Seattle, USA

Received 31 May 2007; received in revised form 14 August 2007; accepted 15 August 2007.

Abstract 

Objectives

This study used both cone frustum and right truncated pyramids mathematical methods to evaluate and characterize molar tooth surface area. Previous mathematical modeling studies evaluated only the total surface area. We attempted to analyze both the top surface and lateral surface areas.

Methods

The computations were performed according to the published formulas. The vertical heights of both models were assigned to be 3 and 4mm and the horizontal base width chosen to be 9 and 10mm for both models. Three total occlusal convergences: 10°, 15°, and 20° were selected to be the tested parameters.

Results

The calculated data revealed that the top surface area represented a relatively large proportion of the total surface area in both models. We also found that the effect of increasing the total occlusal convergence has a much greater effect on the overall top surface area than the lateral surface and total surface areas.

Conclusions

The models previously used to report and compare surface areas of prepared natural teeth were found to be overestimating the overall surface area. More complex configurations including two-plane reductions, anatomy of cusps and retentive features such as slots and grooves need to be included in future modeling protocols.

Keywords: Mathematical modeling, Cone frustum, Right truncated pyramids, Crowns

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PII: S0300-5712(07)00159-5

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2007.08.002

Journal of Dentistry
Volume 35, Issue 11 , Pages 875-877, November 2007

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