PFM Crown Template

Chairside Form 26 sheet for a metal-ceramic (PFM) crown on [tooth __] — prep to the OCHWA PFM figures, cement with Panavia F 2.0 + Alloy Primer. Material selection, the cement comparison and the impression comparison live on Crown Template and are not repeated here.

Two signatures required

Form 26 = reconstructive phase. You need 2 signatures — prosth specialist AND clinic coordinators. No aesthetic work on this form.

Design & material

Margin design. Facially a ceramic shoulder — it needs at least 1.5 mm of reduction to give the porcelain enough bulk, and it cannot be done with a chamfer or a feather edge. Lingually/palatally, and on posterior teeth where a metal collar is acceptable, a chamfer with a metal collar is the design of choice. The shoulder blends interproximally from the wide labial margin into the narrower palatal chamfer — prefer the contemporary wingless preparation: smooth rounded line angles and flowing transitions, which lower stress concentration and scan and mill more predictably (M2 PFM Prep).

Metal-ceramic junction. Occlusal analysis decides the design before you pick up a bur. Keep centric contacts at least 1.5 mm away from the metal-ceramic junction, and never let the junction fall on a functional contact point — instruct the lab either to extend the porcelain past the contact or to keep the whole contact area in metal (M2 PFM Prep).

Taper. Total occlusal convergence 6–12° (ideal taper 6° per wall; TOC = 2 × taper). The shorter the axial walls, the more parallel they must be.

Anterior facial surfaces usually need a two-plane reduction to follow the natural contour without over-tapering (F5 Principles of tooth prep).

Reduction — OCHWA figures (full ceramic coverage)

Surface	Anterior	Posterior
Incisal / occlusal	2 mm	2 mm functional cusp · 1.5 mm non-functional cusp
Axial	1.5 mm	1.5 mm
Margin	1.5 mm shoulder	1.5 mm shoulder

Source: OCHWA Crown Reduction Guidelines — the local clinic standard. Functional/supporting cusps are maxillary palatal and mandibular buccal; they take the deeper reduction and the functional cusp bevel.

Partial ceramic coverage — the OCHWA table does NOT cover this case

Use these figures only for a partial-coverage PFM (metal palatal or occlusal surface), and say so on the lab slip (M2 PFM Prep).

Surface	Figure
Occlusal, non-functional cusp	1 mm
Occlusal, functional cusp	1.5–2.0 mm
Margin	Chamfer or shoulder — 0.5 mm metal, 1.5 mm ceramic
Axial, metal only	1 mm
Axial, metal-ceramic	1.5 mm

The metal portion needs 0.5–1.0 mm; the porcelain portion needs at least 1.5 mm. In a deep bite with limited interocclusal space a metal palatal/lingual surface needs only 0.5 mm, against at least 1.0 mm for all-ceramic — this is the usual reason to choose partial coverage.

Lab note. The alloy must be castable in 0.3 mm section (M2 PFM Prep).

Appointment 1 — Prep and impression

1. LA — buccal plus palatal/lingual infiltration, with or without a block.
2. Shade BEFORE the prep with Vita 3D Master. Tooth wet, daylight, quick glances. Record the thirds and any in-between shade (e.g. A1.5). PFM is a compromise in the aesthetic zone — flag the risk of a dark margin with the patient now, not at try-in.
3. Opposing alginate while the LA takes effect.
4. Two putty keys — one kept intact for the provisional, one sectioned buccolingually as a reduction guide.
5. Prep by zone to the figures above: occlusal/incisal depth grooves on the triangular ridges and developmental grooves (1 mm diamond) then connect; functional cusp bevel; two-plane axial reduction (gingival two-thirds near-parallel to the long axis, occlusal third following contour); interproximal with a needle/narrow tapered bur behind a matrix band; margin planed from the side, never cut with the bur tip. Apply the 80%-then-finish rule — gross-reduce to about 80% of the target and take the last portion at the finishing stage.

Anterior PFM prep, labial and proximal views, finish line marked in black — note the labial shoulder (M2 PFM Prep, slide 36).	Posterior reduction per cusp, opposing teeth in section: 1.5 mm non-functional cusp, 2.0 mm functional cusp, 1.5 mm axial, 1.5 mm margin — these match the OCHWA figures above exactly (M2 PFM Prep, slide 18).	The design decision, on one prep. Top, proximal view: the deep buccal step carrying metal plus ceramic, dropping to the shallow metal-only lingual reduction. Bottom, occlusal view: the finish line is a wide flat shoulder buccally and narrows to a chamfer ledge lingually, with the transition running interproximally (M2 PFM Prep, slide 25).

6. Margin placement. Supragingival wherever possible. If subgingival, intracrevicular only (about 0.7 mm maximum) and never within 2 mm of crestal bone. Subgingival refinement technique: prepare the margin equigingival first, pack retraction cord, then refine 0.5 mm below the retracted gumline (M2 PFM Prep).
7. Check the prep. View from directly above the occlusal with one eye closed — every part of the margin must be visible. Only a small, uniform amount of axial wall should show (a lot of visible axial wall means over-tapered). Check clearance across the whole surface with the sectioned putty key, in centric and excursion. Round all line angles. Run an explorer round the margin — smooth, continuous, no ledges or gutters. Confirm the planned metal-ceramic junction clears the centric contacts by 1.5 mm.
8. Provisional BEFORE the impression — Luxatemp or Protemp in the intact putty key.
9. Double cord — thin 000/00 stays in, larger 0/1 comes out just before injecting. Wet in astringent.
10. Dual-phase PVS impression — light body on the margins, heavy body in the tray, top cord out first, seat back to front. Keep latex off everything: it inhibits the PVS set.
11. Inspect the impression — all margins clear, 3–4 mm recorded beyond the margin, no bubbles, drags or tray show-through.
12. Bite registration with Regisil, at MIP for a conformative case.
13. Cement the provisional with TempoCem — eugenol-free, because the definitive is resin-bonded. Check the occlusion after.
14. Post-op advice — temp is weak, avoid sticky and hard foods, floss out sideways.
15. Lab dispatch — impression, opposing model, bite registration, shade and characterisation, the material (PFM), the margin design and where the metal-ceramic junction sits, and the lab slip. Say explicitly if this is a partial-coverage design.

+1.5 — On receiving labwork (before Appt 2)

• Die and opposing model — no pouring defects, over-trimming, fracture or wear.
• Internal surface — no blebs, contacts the die at the margins only, slightly loose from the die spacer rather than friction-tight.
• Margins — no open margins, overhangs or underextensions. Check the ceramic shoulder is a shoulder, not a thinned chamfer.
• External surface — contour, shade and texture as requested; occlusion checked on the articulator; the metal-ceramic junction is where you asked for it and not on a functional contact.
• Confirm the Panavia F 2.0 kit is complete — Alloy Primer, ED PRIMER II A and B, Paste A and B, and OXYGUARD II if you plan to self-cure. No vault source confirms these are stocked separately from the kit.

Appointment 2 — Try-in and cementation

1. LA if needed. Remove the provisional by wiggling it; section buccal to lingual if retentive. Clean off the temporary cement with an ultrasonic scaler and pumice.
2. Seat in order — proximal contact, then internal fit, then marginal fit.
3. Assess in order — stability, contour, occlusion, aesthetics. Occlusion with 8 micron shim stock; blue marks centric, red marks eccentric. Check the porcelain is polished or glazed where it meets the antagonist — unpolished porcelain abrades enamel.
4. Patient approval before cementing.

Panavia F 2.0 + Alloy Primer — technique card

The ED PRIMER II trap

ED PRIMER II goes on the TOOTH and initiates the set of the cement. The mixed Paste A and B goes inside the crown, never on the tooth. Get this backwards and the cement starts setting before the crown is seated.

1. Sandblast the metal intaglio, wash and dry. Usually lab-done — do it chairside if it has not been. (The ~1 bar pressure limit is a zirconia constraint, not a metal one.)
2. Alloy Primer to the internal surface of the restoration.
3. Mix equal amounts of ED PRIMER II A and B. Apply to the tooth. Wait 30 seconds.
4. Gently air dry.
5. Dispense equal amounts of Paste A and Paste B.
6. Mix Paste A and B for 20 seconds.
7. Apply the mixed paste inside the crown. Seat fully.
8. Remove excess. For easy clean-up, partially light-cure the excess 2–3 seconds, then remove it. Interproximally, pass floss through the contact and pull it out sideways — never back up occlusally.
9. Cure the margins — pick one:
   • Light cure 20 seconds per surface (halogen or LED), or 5 seconds per surface with plasma arc / fast halogen, or
   • Self cure — apply OXYGUARD II to the margins and wait 3 minutes.
10. Post-cementation bitewing to check for subgingival cement remnants. Remove any.
11. Recheck the occlusion, re-polish any adjusted porcelain, and give OHI and crown-care advice.

If the Panavia kit is incomplete: Crown Template carries the fallback — RelyX Unicem 2, self-adhesive dual-cure, sets in about 6 minutes, standard (thick) tip, do not overdry the tooth.

Review (about 1–2 weeks)

• Re-evaluate the occlusion — the patient was numb at insertion.
• Fine-tune contacts, shape and height. Re-polish any porcelain you adjust.
• Check function and gingival health, especially at a subgingival shoulder.

Copy-pastable checklist

PFM CROWN — [tooth __]

DESIGN
- Prepare a ceramic shoulder of at least 1.5 mm facially. It cannot be done with a chamfer or a feather edge.
- Use a chamfer with a metal collar lingually or palatally where metal is acceptable, blending from the wide labial shoulder to the narrower palatal margin.
- Keep centric contacts at least 1.5 mm away from the metal-ceramic junction, and keep the junction off any functional contact point.
- Aim for a total occlusal convergence of 6 to 12 degrees, which is a taper of 3 to 6 degrees per wall.

APPOINTMENT 1 — Prep and impression
- Give LA, using buccal plus palatal or lingual infiltration, with or without a block.
- Take the shade BEFORE the prep with Vita 3D Master. Keep the tooth wet, work in daylight, and use quick glances. Record the thirds and any in-between shades, for example A1.5. Warn the patient that a PFM is less translucent and can show a dark margin.
- Take the opposing alginate while the LA takes effect.
- Take two putty keys. Keep one intact for the temp and section the other to use as a reduction guide.
- Cut depth grooves with a 1 mm diamond on the triangular ridges and the developmental grooves, then connect them.
- Reduce the incisal or occlusal surface to the OCHWA PFM figures. ANTERIOR: incisal 2 mm. POSTERIOR: occlusal 2 mm on the functional cusp and 1.5 mm on the non-functional cusp.
- Reduce the axial walls 1.5 mm to a total occlusal convergence of 6 to 12 degrees, which is a taper of 3 to 6 degrees per wall.
- Prepare the margin as a 1.5 mm shoulder facially to carry the ceramic. The ceramic shoulder cannot be a chamfer or a feather edge. Lingually prepare a chamfer with a metal collar.
- Place the metal-ceramic junction so that it clears every centric contact by at least 1.5 mm.
- Check the prep. View from directly above with one eye closed and confirm there are no undercuts and the whole margin is visible. Check clearance against the sectioned putty key in centric and in excursion. Run an explorer round the margin and confirm it is smooth and continuous with no ledges.
- Fabricate the provisional BEFORE the impression, using Luxatemp or Protemp in the intact putty key.
- Pack double cord. The thin 000 or 00 cord stays in, and the larger 0 or 1 cord is removed just before injecting. Wet the cords in astringent.
- Take a dual-phase PVS impression. Put light body on the margins and heavy body in the tray. Remove the top cord first, then seat back to front. Keep latex away from the material, since latex inhibits the set.
- Inspect the impression. All margins must be clear, with 3-4 mm recorded beyond the margin, no bubbles or drags, and no tray showing through.
- Take the bite registration with Regisil, recording at MIP for a conformative case.
- Cement the provisional with TempoCem, and use a eugenol-FREE cement because the definitive will be resin-bonded. Check the occlusion afterwards.
- Give post-op advice. The temp is weak, so the patient should avoid sticky and hard foods, and should floss out sideways.
- Dispatch to the lab. Send the impression, the opposing model, the bite registration, the shade and characterisation, the MATERIAL as PFM, the margin design, where the metal-ceramic junction is to sit, and the lab slip. State clearly if this is a partial coverage design.

PLUS 1.5 LAB CHECK (before Appt 2)
- Check the die and the opposing model for pouring defects, over-trimming, fracture, and wear.
- Check the internal surface. There should be no blebs, it should touch the die at the margins only, and it should be slightly loose because of the die spacer rather than friction-tight.
- Check the margins. There should be no open margins, no overhangs, and no underextensions, and the ceramic margin should be a true shoulder rather than a thinned chamfer.
- Check the external surface. The contour, shade, and texture should be as requested, the occlusion should be checked on the articulator, and the metal-ceramic junction should sit where you asked and not on a functional contact.
- Confirm the Panavia F 2.0 kit is complete: Alloy Primer, ED PRIMER II A and B, Paste A and Paste B, and OXYGUARD II if you intend to self cure.

APPOINTMENT 2 — Try-in and cementation with Panavia F 2.0
- Give LA if needed. Remove the provisional by wiggling it, and section it from buccal to lingual if it is retentive. Clean off the cement with an ultrasonic scaler and pumice.
- Seat IN ORDER: the proximal contact first, then the internal fit, then the marginal fit.
- Assess the seated crown in order. Check stability, then contour, then occlusion, then aesthetics. For occlusion use an 8 micron shim, where blue marks centric and red marks eccentric.
- Confirm the porcelain is polished or glazed wherever it meets the opposing tooth, because unpolished porcelain abrades enamel.
- Get PATIENT APPROVAL before cementing.
- Sandblast the metal intaglio, then wash and dry it. This is usually done by the lab.
- Apply ALLOY PRIMER to the internal surface of the restoration.
- Mix equal amounts of ED PRIMER II A and B and apply it to the TOOTH. Wait 30 seconds. ED PRIMER II initiates the set of the cement, so it never goes inside the crown.
- Gently air dry.
- Dispense equal amounts of Paste A and Paste B and mix them for 20 seconds.
- Apply the mixed paste INSIDE THE CROWN, not on the tooth, then seat the crown fully.
- Remove the excess. For easy clean-up, partially light cure the excess for 2 to 3 seconds and then remove it. Interproximally, pass floss through the contact and pull it out sideways rather than back up occlusally.
- Cure the margins by ONE of two methods. Light cure for 20 seconds per surface with halogen or LED, or for 5 seconds per surface with plasma arc or fast halogen. Alternatively self cure by applying OXYGUARD II to the margins and waiting 3 minutes.
- Take a post-cementation bitewing to check for subgingival cement, and remove any that is found.
- Recheck the occlusion, and re-polish any adjusted surfaces.
- Give OHI and crown-care advice.

REVIEW (about 1-2 weeks)
- Re-evaluate the occlusion, because the patient was numb at insertion.
- Fine-tune the contacts, the shape, and the height, and re-polish any porcelain that is adjusted.
- Check function and gingival health, particularly around a subgingival shoulder.

Clinical Stages and Authorisation

Each stage requires date, signature, and clinical code (2 signatures — prosth specialist + clinic coordinator).

1. DISCUSSION (material, shade, cement) — date / sign / code:
2. FORM 26 signed – CC — date / sign / code:
3. PREP and FINAL IMPRESSION — date / sign / code:
4. LAB CHECK (die and crown on the model) — date / sign / code:
5. INSERTION (cementation) — date / sign / code:

Authorisation

• Procedure Outline Authorised by:
• Clinician ID:
• Date: