RESTORATIVE AND PERIODONTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF SHORT CLINICAL CROWNS

The purpose of this review was to examine the periodontal and restorat ive factors related to restoring teeth with short clinical crowns. Mod es of therapy are usually combined to meet the biologic, restorative, and esthetic requirements imposed by short clinical crowns. The compli cations presented by teeth with short clinical crowns demand a compreh ensive treatment plan and proper sequencing of therapy to ensure a sat isfactory result Visualization of the desired result is a prerequisite of successful therapy. Short clinical drowns present many problems to the restorative dentist. Restorations should have proper form, functi on, and esthetics while promoting the maintenance of tissue health in the surrounding areas. However, adequate tooth structure for achieving these goals may not always be available. While it is difficult to pre cisely define minimum crown length, this study offers guidelines for d efining a short clinical crown and suggests procedures for achieving a predictable result without compromising the periodontium. The consequ ences of placing a restoration on a tooth with insufficient crown leng th are discussed and various treatment methods are reviewed.