168 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, January-March 2020, Vol.

DOI Number:
14, No. 1 10.37506/v14/i1/2020/ijfmt/192888

Comparative Evaluation of Effect of Auxillary Grooves on

Retention of Complete Cast Crowns in Molar Teeth –
An In-Vitro Study

Thilak Shetty1, C T Anand2, Sharon Saldanha3, Shobha J Rodrigues4, Umesh Pai3,

Mahesh M3, Puneeth Hegde3
1
Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of
Higher Education, 2Private Practitioner, Thilagar Dental Clinic, South Car Street, Sivakasi,
3Associate Professor, 4Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences,

Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Abstract
Aim:The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the effects of auxillary grooves on retention of
complete cast crown on molars. Method: Thirty mounted teeth were divided randomly into three groups of
10 each and grooves are placed using NOF104R diamond point. In group A , no groove is placed – control,
group B, one groove is placed proximally in the centre of mesial surface – Test group. In group C, two
groove is placed proximally , each in centre of mesial surface and distal surface - Test group. Castings were
prepared luted and retention was checked using a Universal Testing machine Results were subjected to
one way ANOVA and Student T Test. Results: Auxilary retentive features produces a significant increase
in retention of complete cast crowns. Incorporation of two proximal grooves on the mesial and distal side
produces the most retention as compared to one groove or conventional tooth preparation Conclusion:
Retentive features produces a significant increase in retention of complete cast crowns

Key words: auxillary grooves, complete cast crowns, tooth preparations, mandibular molar

Introduction frequently done is fixed dental prosthesis. Complete

coverage restoration are the commonly fabricated
A full complement of natural dentition plays an restoration to regain the morphology, function and
important role in mastication, speech and aesthetics. contour of the damaged tooth structure caused by caries,
Conditions like dental caries, periodontal problems, trauma and for protection of root canal treated teeth as
congenital abnormalities, neoplasm, trauma affects the well as retainers for fixed partial dentures . They are
dental health causing loss of teeth, which results in loss also indicated for establishing occlusal rest and guide
of function and aesthetics. Restorative materials are planes in removable partial dentures.
used to re-establish form and function of teeth.
Teeth preparation is defined as the mechanical
Different modalities of tooth replacement are treatment of dental diseases that restores tooth to original
removable dental prosthesis, fixed dental prosthesis, & form. Tooth preparation must follow certain mechanical
Implant supported prosthesis, and among them the most ,biological and esthetic principles . Retention prevents
removal of restoration along the path of insertion or
along the tooth preparation. Retention depends on taper,
Corresponding Author: height, surface area and texture of tooth preparation. 1 ,2
Dr. Thilak Shetty
Email ID- thilak.shettyb@manipal .edu Contact No- Sometimes we come across tooth with inadequate
+91-9980436867, Address: Department No. 7, Manipal crown height which results in reduced crown retention
College of Dental Sciences, Lighthouse Hill road, causing dislodgment of the crown by masticatory or
Mangalore 575001 para-functional forces.
 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, January-March 2020, Vol. 14, No. 1 169

Clinically a short crown requires crown lengthening, height of 3.5mm as measured at the mid-buccal surface.
which is a periodontal surgical procedure before crown
preparation which adds to the cost and complexity of IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE:
treatment. Other modalities for inadequate crown height Impressions of the prepared teeth were made
to improve retention are incorporation of grooves, with multiple mix single step technique with polyvinyl
boxes, pins & ledges. The aim of this study is to compare siloxane impression material. and cast is poured in type
and evaluate the effects of auxillary grooves on retention IV die stone following manufacturer’s instructions
of complete cast crown on molars. taking care to see mix is free of any defects or air bubbles
by mixing with a vaccum mixer.
Materials and Method
Thirty extracted mandibular first molars, of equal PREPARATION OF WAX PATTERNS: The dies
dimensions mesiodistally, buccolingually and cervico- are painted with three coats of die spacer 1mm short
incisally were selected for the study. The roots of teeth of finish lines. Die lubricant (Isolit) is painted
were notched for anchorage and mounted vertically in on the master die and excess of lubricant is removed
auto polymerizing acrylic resin block 2mm below the with a gentle stream of air. Wax copings of 1mm is
cementoenamel junction . A dental surveyor is used to prepared by using blue inlay wax(BEGO) , carved with
position the long axis of the tooth . These mounted teeth PKT wax instrument simulating a cylinder axially and
were divided randomly into three groups of 10 each and flat occlusally . A 2mm sprue wax is made as loop and
grooves are placed using NOF104R diamond point. attached to the centre of occlusal surfaces of wax pattern
for testing in a universal testing machine . Wax patterns
In group A , no groove is placed – control group are designated with a code number for convenience of
identifying it for corresponding prepared tooth. These
In group B, one groove is placed proximally in the wax patterns are sprued and invested with phosphate
centre of mesial surface – Test group bonded investment. Burn out is done by lost wax process.
In group C , two groove is placed proximally , Casting And Finishing:
each in centre of mesial surface and distal surface - Test
group. Test copings are cast using nickel chromium alloys(
Wirolloy Bego, Germany) in electronic centrifugal
The groove were placed parallel to the path of induction casting machine( Gallloni) . These castings are
insertion and minimum of 3mm long . Groove should retrieved from investments and sprues are cut using high
be terminated 0.5mm above the chamfer finish line and speed grinder( Speed Master) . Minor adjustments to seat
are parallel to each other with the axial walls converging the casting are done with a small round bur mounted on
towards the occlusal surface. Size of groove should be a laboratory hand piece. Internal surface of the castings
half the diameter of the diamond point with buccal and are air abraded with 100-150 um Aluminium oxide
lingual walls diverging from each other. particles at 40 psi and fit of casting are verified on the
Tooth Preparation: preparation . All the casting are cleaned with ultrasonic
cleaning unit ( USG 4000 Ultrashall , Dentarum) for 15
Teeth preparation was done with a high speed minutes .
airotor handpiece attached to vertical arm of surveyor
using a lockable joint . A custom made paralleling Cementation:
device is used to attain parallelism of axial walls and Teeth and crowns are thoroughly cleansed and dried
constant taper for each crown preparation. All teeth with filtered compressed air before cementation. All these
were then photographed ( at an image size of 4:1) for teeth are cemented with Type I glass ionomer cement
facial and/or lingual aspect as well as mesial and / according to manufacturers recommendation. Each
or distal aspect. A protactor was used to measure the casting is filled with sufficient luting cement to evenly
degree of taper. A constant taper of 10 + - 1 degree was cover the inner surface, seated with digital pressure on
obtained for all the preparations . A uniform chamfer the tooth taking care to see that excess cement is flown
finish line of 0.5mm width is established at the cemento- all around. An explorer is used to carefully remove the
enamel junction. All preparations are refined using SF excess cement.
-102R diamond point. Teeth are prepared to constant
170 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, January-March 2020, Vol. 14, No. 1

To verify the complete seating of casting , Discussion

micrometer measurements are made before and after
Full cover restorations are required to restore
cementation. Each casting is seated on tooth without
teeth with minimal remaining coronal tooth structure
cement and the distance from the bottom margin of the
or when fixed partial denture is fabricated. A steadily
acrylic resin base is measured. Measurement is repeated
increasing demand for restorations of edentulous regions
after cementation and two readings are compared .
with fixed partial dentures has directed attention to the
Tests specimens are stored for 24 hours at 37 degree at
effectiveness of retention of fixed partial denture on
100% relative humidity .
abutment teeth. Several factors affect the retention of the
Measurement Of Retention: crowns. They are geometry of preparation, type of luting
agent, occlusal forces acting, position of crown and
Crowns are subjected to vertical dislodgement tenso-frictional resistance offered by the dentin. Loss of
force until failure on a universal testing machine at retention of a full coverage restoration may be due to
a cross head speed of 5mm/ min. Castings are pulled poor geometrical preparation of the crown , dissolution
along the apicoronal axis of each tooth using a “J” hook of the luting agent and improper occlusal contacts.
attached to the upper member of the testing machine.
Force of dislodgement and debonding are recorded in This study demonstrated that clinically compromised
Megapascals and tabulated . Intergroup comparison was complete coverage tooth preparation including reduced
done using ANOVA. Level of significance was set at p occluso cervical dimension, increased TOC, and a
. ≤0.05 reduced occluso cervical –to buccolingual dimension
ratio offered greater retention with grooves. Thirty
Results freshly extracted mandibular molars are used . These
teeth were divided into three groups. Group A had teeth
Results are presented in Table 1 and 2
prepared in a conventional manner , group B had teeth
Table 1: Mean and Standard Deviations of the prepared with one proximal groove & group C had teeth
forces required to dislodge each casting from its prepared with two proximal grooves. Tooth occlusal
preparations convergence is one of aspect of preparation of complete
cast crowns. Retention of crown is determined at various
Standard TOC angles by applying a tensile force to cemented
Samples N Mean crown. Maximum tensile retentive values are recorded
deviation
at 5 degree TOC. Wilson and Chan in 19941 reported
Group A 10 256.8 4.135 maximal retention occurred between 6 to 12 degrees.
Occlusal views were used to clinically assess TOC but
Group B 10 34.553 7.173
of limited value, hence during tooth preparation mouth
mirror has been recommended so that facial and lingual
view of prepared tooth is established as effective means
Group C 10 57.67 10.58
of assessing TOC .

Table 2: Comparison of different groups using Mandibular teeth are generally prepared with greater
least significant difference test TOC compared to maxillary teeth1, hence axial grooves
are routinely incorporated in preparation of mandibular
molars for fixed partial dentures . Also FPD abutments
Mean
Group (X) Group (Y) difference p are prepared with greater TOC compared to individual
(X-Y) crowns.

Group A Group B -8.693 0.047 Woosley and Matisch 5 determined that proximal
grooves provided complete resistance to faciolingual
Group A Group C -31.814 .001 forces , whereas facial or lingual grooves provided
only partial resistance to faciolingual dislodgment .
Group B Group C -23.121 0.001 Proximal grooves increase the resistance and retention
of restoration. Ayad etal 6 in a study found a marked
difference between the degree of taper of full crown
 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, January-March 2020, Vol. 14, No. 1 171

preparation of 18- 22 degree and that of boxes and grooves as compared to one groove or conventional tooth
in the axial surface of preparations as shorter distance preparation
between walls allows dentist to prepare more precisely.
Also Woosley and Matich reported that proximal Conflict of Interest : Nil
grooves on short 15 degree dies provide complete Source of Funding : Self
resistance to faciolingual horizontal displacement.
Ethical Clearance for this study is taken from
The results showed highly significant amount of our college institutional ethical committee. Enclosed
separation force required to dislodge casting between certificate of ethical clearance.
one groove (Group B) and no grooves (Group A)
p≤0.047 and very highly significant forces required References
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6. Ayad MF , Johnston WM, Rosensteil SF. Influence
1. Auxiliary retentive features produces a of tooth preparation taper and cement type on
significant increase in retention of complete cast crowns recementation strength of complete metal crowns.
J. Prosthet Dent.2009;102: 354-61.
2. Incorporation of two proximal grooves on
the mesial and distal side produces the most retention