The vocabulary that shows up across crown & bridge, implant, removable, and full-arch design — defined simply, without the jargon-on-jargon.
How precisely the edge of a crown or restoration meets the natural tooth structure at the prep line. Tighter margin fit means less risk of decay or sensitivity at the edge of the restoration.
The contour of a restoration as it transitions from the implant or tooth root up through the gum line, shaping how natural the final crown looks and how it supports the surrounding gum tissue.
How the upper and lower teeth meet and interact when biting or chewing. Correct occlusion is checked during quality control on every crown, bridge, or denture design.
How firmly two adjacent teeth touch at their interproximal (side-by-side) surfaces. Contacts that are too loose can trap food; too tight can make flossing difficult.
A small marker attached to a dental implant during intraoral scanning, used to record the implant's exact position and angle so the CAD software can design an accurately fitting abutment or crown.
A rigid, often 3D-printed frame used to confirm that a full-arch implant framework fits precisely in the mouth before the final prosthesis is fabricated, reducing the risk of a misfit final restoration.
The underlying framework or substructure of a crown, designed before any esthetic layering or staining is added on top.
A crown or restoration designed and milled as a single solid piece (monolithic), rather than a coping with separate layered porcelain on top.
An esthetic crown design built with a substructure plus hand-layered or digitally-layered porcelain on top, typically used for anterior (front) teeth where natural translucency matters most.
A denture base designed with natural-looking contours that mimic real gum tissue, rather than a flat or simplified shape.
A simplified, flatter denture base design, often chosen for specific clasp or fit requirements rather than esthetics alone.
The metal component of a removable partial denture that grips onto remaining natural teeth to hold the prosthesis in place.
A milled titanium or CoCr framework that a full-arch prosthesis attaches to, typically compatible with locator or ball attachment systems.
A fixed or removable full-arch restoration, often built around a bar or substructure, combining a supporting framework with denture teeth for All-on-X style cases.
Case planning and visualization of a smile makeover using patient photos and scan data, done before any physical lab work begins, to help clinicians present treatment options to patients.
The standard 3D file format used to represent scanned teeth, gums, and dental designs, readable by both 3Shape and exocad and compatible with most milling and printing hardware.
A crown milled from a single solid block of zirconia ceramic, without a separate coping and layering step, valued for strength and simpler fabrication.
A lithium disilicate ceramic material commonly used for esthetic crowns and veneers, valued for its natural translucency.
A crown design with a metal substructure and porcelain layered on top, an older but still widely used approach balancing strength and esthetics.
An intermediate fitting step for removable dentures, checking fit, bite, and esthetics before finalizing the design, often priced and scheduled separately from the final delivery.
Your first crown & bridge or implant case is free — no long-term commitment, no setup cost.