Safe Disassembly of Single Prosthetic Crown Under Rubber Dam Isolation

Introduction Prosthetic crown disassembly is a critical preliminary step in endodontic treatment. Unlike conventional crown disassembly techniques — which often compromise patient safety due to fragment dispersal and soft tissue exposure — the rubber dam-isolated approach addresses these limitations through controlled field isolation. Prior to crown disassembly, clinicians must evaluate the need for provisional restoration placement. Two primary provisional restoration strategies are available: (1) direct chairside fabrication of a custom provisional using a silicone matrix that replicates the original crown anatomy, or (2) indirect laboratory fabrication of a pre-milled provisional restoration (requiring submission of either a digital scan or traditional impression). In aesthetic zones, pre-treatment core build-up of the prepared stump (where clinically indicated) with a ready-made provisional restoration is…