Inadequate tooth reduction (insufficient clearance)
What it is
Preparing a crown/onlay/veneer without enough space for the chosen restorative material — most commonly insufficient occlusal reduction and/or insufficient axial reduction — so the lab must either make the restoration too thin or overcontoured to achieve thickness.
Why it happens
• No depth-guides (freehand reduction → under-reduced areas, especially functional cusps and central groove) • Not preparing anatomically (flattened occlusal reduction creates uneven clearance; you end up with "thin spots") • Fear of pulp exposure / "conservative" mindset without balancing structural durability of the restoration • Material requirements not planned (different materials need different minimum thickness/clearance) • Occlusion not checked during prep (clearance changes with excursions; functional cusp bevel often missed)
The full clinical mistake entry includes
- How to avoid it — the prevention protocol
- The clinical tip experienced clinicians use
- The documented reference behind the mistake
More clinical mistakes
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