A pinledge is occasionally used as a single restoration, generally to reestablish anterior guidance, in which case only the lingual surface

is prepared.
anterior guidance

preparation of

single restoration

pinledge llingual surface only

lingual

surface

More commonly, however, it is used as a retainer for a fixed partial denture or to splint periodontally compromised teeth, in these cases, one or more of the proximal surfaces are included in the preparation design to accommodate the required connector(s).
prioximal surface partial denture preparation Retainer

y 3- Retention and resistance are provided primarily by pins that extend to a depth of 2 mm into dentin, compared to other retainers, the pinledge preparation is very conservative of tooth structure.
retention (resist lateral pins restoration .. .. movement) &resistance(resist occulusal forces)

y 4- Generally, pinledges are highly esthetic restorations.

y 5- Plaque control after treatment is easier because of short margin length and largely supragingival margin location.

Fig. Recommended dimensions are given in the buccolingual cross section on the right. A) Ledge B) Indentation C) Pinhole D) Countersink.

....

Incisal and Lingual Reduction

y Prepare the incisal bevel with the diamond, inclined slightly toward the lingual 45 display of metal. y The desired metal thickness is 1 mm. y Perform the lingual reduction with a football or flame-shaped diamond after placing reduction grooves as has been described in other anterior preparations. y The margin should be on the height of contour of the cingulum, 1mm supragingivally and continues until it runs into the proximal reduction. y The finish line is chamfer, its thickness range from 0.3 to 0.5 mm or we may use heavy chamfer (0.8 mm) in certain cases. y Smooth the incisal and lingual reduction with fine-grit diamonds and stones before preparing the ledges and pinholes. to the long axis of the tooth. y It must remain within the curvature of the incisal edge to minimize

Proximal Reduction y Prepare the proximal slice with a tapered diamond. y The diamond is either held parallel to the path of withdrawal to facilitate the subsequent procedures or given a slight lingual inclination to minimize the metal display. y The primary purpose of this step is to provide sufficient reduction to allow adequate metal in the area for a subsequent connector. y The proximal reduction includes the proximal contact area, but care must be taken not to extend the reduction too far facially.

y For esthetic reasons, the reduction must not extend onto the labial surface.

Ledges and Indentations y Two ledges are prepared across the reduced lingual surface. y They will provide room for sufficient bulk of metal to ensure rigidity. y The restoration would otherwise not be very strong because it would consist of only a thin sheet of metal. y The determination of the incisocervical location of the ledges depends on the configuration of the pulp and the available bulk of tooth structure. y Usually the incisal ledge is prepared 2 to 2.5 mm cervical to the incisal edge to minimize the metal display as the thickness of the tooth at this area is thin. y The cervical ledge is placed on the crest of the cingulum at the center of the cervical one fourth of the preparation Fig. The incisal ledge is placed so its floor is one fourth of the preparation's height from the incisal edge. The cervical ledge is placed so its floor bisects the cervical fourth. Note that the path of insertion is parallel to the incisal two thirds of the labial wall.

y Prepare two ledges with a cylindrical carbide bur. y The design of the ledges must be compatible with the path of withdrawal of the restoration, which is parallel to the incisal two thirds of the labial surface of the tooth. y Make indentations in the left and right sides of the incisal ledge and slightly off center in the cervical ledge to prevent subsequent pulp exposure when the pinholes are placed. y These incisal indentations will be as widely spaced as possible to retain as much dentin as possible between the pinholes and the pulp. y Because the completed pinhole must be surrounded by sound dentin, it is not possible to place holes in the extreme corners because of the tooth's morphology. y Generally this means that the indentations are just within the mesial and distal marginal ridges, about 1.5 mm inside the external tooth contour. y The same carbide bur can be used to prepare the indentations. y When completed, the configuration of the indentations should resemble a half cylinder. y When combined, they should provide a flat area 1 to 1.2 mm wide buccolingually.

Pinhole Preparation y The depth of the completed pinhole should be at least 2 mm. y The width should be 0.3 dentin 0.5 mm. y They should parallel the path of withdrawal and surrounded with

owever, it should be remembered that the design and location of the pinholes have already been determined by the placement of the ledges and indentations, so the only remaining concern should be verification of the position of the rotary instrument and attainment of the minimum depth of the pinholes.

y This will permit alignment verification as the pinholes are prepared. y Bevel the junction between pinhole and indentation with a round bur slightly larger than the largest diameter of the pinhole.