LAUSR

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to measure the marginal gaps of CAD/CAM all-ceramic crowns constructed using different cement spaces on crown preparations created by undergraduate students. METHODS Twenty-four Columbia model lower left first molars with assessed tapers and reduction volumes (RV) were recruited to receive complete coverage E.max crowns. Three E.max crowns were digitally designed and milled for each crown preparation using three different cement spaces: 50 μm (CS-50), 100 μm (CS-100), 200 μm (CS-200). Each crown was seated onto its original crown preparation and three vertical marginal gap measurements were taken at four locations (mid-buccal, mid-lingual, mid-mesial, mid-distal) using a stereomicroscope. The mean marginal gap (MMG) was calculated for each crown and each individual tooth surface. RESULTS The MMG was statistically significantly different for each of the three cement spaces (126 μm for CS-50, 89 μm for CS-100, and 75 μm for CS-200) (P < 0.0001). A taper of between 20 and 30° produced the smallest MMG. Insufficient RV caused significantly larger MMGs. The buccal margin had significantly smaller MMGs than all other measured surfaces. CONCLUSIONS The most accurate margins of digitally designed all-ceramic crowns constructed on simulation teeth prepared by undergraduate students were observed when using a 200 μm cement space.