finish line
The prepared marginal boundary on a tooth where a dental restoration terminates, defining the edge of a crown or onlay.
Full Definition
The finish line (also called the preparation margin or crown margin) is the precisely prepared edge at the cervical aspect of a tooth preparation that defines where the restoration ends and the natural tooth structure begins. Common finish line designs include the chamfer, shoulder, knife-edge, and feather-edge. In laboratory documents, editors will encounter references to 'locating the finish line' on a die or 'seating on the finish line.' The two-word spelling 'finish line' is standard; do not hyphenate. This term should not be confused with the marginal fit of the completed restoration.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, no hyphen: 'finish line.' Do not confuse with 'marginal fit,' which describes how well the completed restoration seats on the finish line.
In Context
- "The technician marked the finish line on each die with a red pencil before applying the die spacer." — Crown fabrication procedure
- "The prescription specified a 1.0 mm chamfer finish line on all four abutment teeth." — Laboratory work order