HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What type of restoration requires a dowel?

1. A temporary filling

2. An artificial crown

3. A bridge

4. A denture

The correct answer is: An artificial crown

A dowel is used in dental restorations to provide structural support for a prosthetic tooth, particularly in the case of an artificial crown. When a tooth is significantly damaged and has lost a substantial amount of its structure, a dowel is placed in the root canal of the tooth. This dowel acts as an anchor for the crown, ensuring that it is securely attached and capable of handling the forces of chewing. The use of a dowel is particularly important when the remaining tooth structure is inadequate to support a crown on its own. This doweling procedure typically involves the placement of a post, which is the dowel, to provide a stable and reliable base for the crown restoration. In contrast, other restorations like temporary fillings, bridges, or dentures do not require such a supportive dowel because they utilize different methods of anchoring or are designed to replace missing teeth without needing a doweled base for support.