Improving the fit of crowns with die spacers

This investigation studied the dependence of seating crowns on the thickness of layers of spacers applied to dies. Extracted molars were prepared to designated taper angles. Artificial stone dies were prepared in polyether impressions of tooth preparations and covered with one to five layers of new or old spacer material in a predetermined manner. Wax patterns were invested to obtain a uniform and low expansion. Crowns were cast, luted to the teeth, invested in acrylic resin, ground parallel to the axes of the teeth, and inspected microscopically. The average thickness of layers of new and old spacer material was determined. The application of spacers up to the shoulder margins of dies decreased the elevation of the casting above the margin of the tooth preparation until an average minimum elevation above the shoulder of the preparation was obtained. A further increase in the spacer thickness did not affect the elevation, but increased the cement thickness at the axial walls. The average minimum elevation results mainly from individual protrusions on the casting surface. The optimum thickness of the spacer results in the minimum elevation at the margin together with a low cement thickness at the axial walls. Leaving the cervical part of the axial walls near the margin uncovered with spacer negates the effect of a thick spacer on the remaining die surface almost completely and is therefore contraindicated.