What is the place of the full crown in restorative dentistry?

What is the place of the full crown in restorative dentistry? It is the foundation of good fixed bridgework. It is a restoration which, when properly used, completely restores a tooth by providing ideal occlusal, proximal, and gingival relations, and the acme of protection to the tooth from caries. It has the greatest margin of tolerance of any restoration—full crowns constructed with the same degree of skill are less susceptible to failure than are three-quarter crowns or inlays. It is not the wish of the essayist to convey the opinion that the full crown should supersede all other types of retainers or individual tooth restorations. It is rather to indicate a more intelligent approach to the use of the full crown. A full appreciation of its merits and limitations by dentists and public alike will allay the misapprehensions so commonly encountered. The familiar allusion to infection commonly associated with crowns may be dispelled by adhering to the concepts of pulpal and gingival health. The complete protection afforded by the full crown is the safest and surest foundation upon which large and involved dental restorations may be built. Neither patient nor dentist should risk extensive replacements on inlays or three-quarter crowns in mouths where the caries frequency is high. The well-executed full crown is a restoration worthy of the confidence of both patient and dentist.