HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

Which crown includes a dowel pin that extends into the root canal?

1. Three-quarter crown

2. Jacket crown

3. Dowel crown

4. Inlay

The correct answer is: Dowel crown

The correct answer is the dowel crown. A dowel crown is specifically designed to include a dowel pin that fits into the root canal of a tooth. This dowel serves the purpose of providing additional retention and stability to the crown, especially when a tooth has been significantly damaged or needs extra support due to a root canal treatment. The dowel essentially acts as an anchor, securing the crown in place and helping to restore function and aesthetics to the tooth. Three-quarter crowns, jacket crowns, and inlays do not utilize a dowel pin. A three-quarter crown covers most of the tooth but does not extend into the root canal. A jacket crown provides a full cover of a tooth but is usually placed over a structurally sound tooth or core rather than through a dowel. Inlays are restorations that are fitted into cavities and do not involve the same anchoring mechanism as a dowel crown. Thus, the inclusion of a dowel pin is a distinctive characteristic that defines the purpose of a dowel crown.