Reproducing Optical Properties of Anterior Teeth after Ultra-Conservative Preparation.

OBJECTIVE: Selecting the appropriate material is essential when restoring color and appearance of esthetically compromised anterior teeth.

CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Most of the conventional restorative techniques require tooth reduction in order to mimic optical properties of a natural tooth. Fortunately, bonding techniques associated with improvements on dental ceramics esthetics allow for highly conservative treatment options in which maximum preservation of dental tissues can be attained. An analysis of different ceramic materials available and different types of tooth preparation is presented in a format of a decision tree for treatment planning.

CONCLUSIONS: The suggested decision-making aims to facilitate clinicians' selection of the most appropriate restorative technique for reproducing color and appearance of anterior teeth after ultra-conservative preparation and according to different clinical scenarios CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The selection of the appropriate ceramic material for each case is of major importance, since the entire treatment plan will be determined based on the type of ceramic material that will be used for the final restoration. Each restorative material has a specific tooth preparation requirement, indications, and limitations that shall be respected for maximum esthetical outcomes. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:267-276, 2016).