Ceramic Crown Thickness Balance — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyDental MaterialsCeramic Crown Thickness BalanceMFDS Part 1

For a full-coverage ceramic crown, adequate ceramic bulk is required to resist fracture. What is the main competing consideration when deciding how much tooth reduction to provide?

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Correct answer: E — Removal of additional sound tooth tissue

The correct answer is E. Ceramic requires sufficient material bulk to withstand occlusal loading, but creating that space requires removal of tooth tissue. Excessive reduction sacrifices sound enamel and dentine and may increase the biological risk to the pulp. Required thickness is material-, design- and site-specific, so a universal 1–2 mm minimum should not be assumed. Luting-cement thickness is primarily determined by restoration fit and manufacturing parameters. Crown retention depends on preparation height, taper and surface area; excessive occlusal reduction may actually shorten the axial walls. Colour stability and thermal conductivity are not the principal opposing considerations when determining preparation depth.

Reference: Mechanical behavior and laboratory survival of thin and ultrathin ceramic crowns: A systematic review and meta-analysis, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41084098/