Core restoration for crown preparation.

This article will review the relevant literature fom 1991-2003, a period of time when adhesive resin luting materials became available and luting crowns with zinc phosphate cements decreased. The review wtill look at the principles suggesting when a core should be placed, what core materials function best, preparation design with a core, luting material choice with a core, and results of clinical trials. Amalgam cores are regarded as the strongest material, best able to withstand adverse stress and restore teeth having the greatest loss of tooth structure. Composite resins, whether chemically cured or light cured, reinforced or not, appear best capable of core restorationfor moderately broken down teeth. Glass ionomer materials are considered too weak to withstand stress as a core material, but are recommended as a base material tofill in undercuts and improve the accuracy of impression and fit of a crown.