National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the National Dental Assisting Exam with comprehensive quiz questions, including multiple choice and detailed explanations. Equip yourself for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


A porcelain fused to a metal crown is designed with porcelain on which surface?

  1. Lingual

  2. Incisal

  3. Facial

  4. Occlusal

The correct answer is: Facial

A porcelain fused to metal crown typically has porcelain covering the facial surface. This design serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. The facial area of the crown is highly visible when someone smiles or talks, so it is crucial for this portion to be made with porcelain to match the natural tooth color and appearance. This enhances the crown's esthetics, providing a more natural look in comparison to metal alone. In addition to aesthetics, the porcelain can provide an effective barrier against wear and tear, while still benefiting from the strength of the underlying metal structure. The metal core offers durability and support, especially in areas subject to heavy occlusal forces. The other surfaces—the lingual, incisal, and occlusal—can be made of metal alone or a combination depending on the clinical situation and the specific preferences of the dentist and patient. However, the facial surface is specifically designed to be porcelain to ensure that the crown blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural dentition.