Cervical margin design with contemporary esthetic restorations

A diagnostically and digitally driven tooth preparation protocol by using a patient monitoring tool with an intraoral scanner

Finding the right balance between the preservation of tooth structure and providing adequate space for the restorative material is a major challenge in prosthetic dentistry. A technique is presented using the patient monitoring tool available in standard software programs of an intraoral scanner to constantly monitor preparation dimensions in relation to the optimal definitive restoration.

Finish-line designs for ceramic crowns: A systematic review and meta-analysis

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Different finish-line designs have been advocated for tooth preparations of ceramic crowns. However, scientific evidence is lacking to help clinicians make a proper selection.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of finish-line designs on the marginal and internal adaptations of ceramic crowns.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This report follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The literature search was conducted in MEDLINE via the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases with no publication year or language limits. In vitro studies comparing the marginal and internal adaptations of ceramic crowns with rounded shoulder and chamfer finish lines were included in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Review Manager Software. Meta-analyses were performed with random-effects models (α=.05). Ceramic crowns with rounded shoulders exhibited significantly better marginal adaptation than those with chamfers (P<.001; mean difference=-7.8; 95% confidence interval=-11.6 to -4.1). Moreover, ceramic crowns with chamfers exhibited significantly better internal adaptation than those with rounded shoulders (P=.020; mean difference=35.0; 95% confidence interval=6.5 to 63.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in marginal adaptation of ceramic crowns using 2 finish-line designs was small, and the clinical significance was low, whereas the results of internal adaptation favored the chamfer finish line.

Impact of rehabilitation with metal-ceramic restorations on oral health-related quality of life

Dental ceramics present excellent ability to reproduce the natural teeth regarding esthetic and biomechanics. Recently, due to the advancement of ceramic technology, metal-free restorations were developed. However, the traditional metal-ceramic restorations still present the requirements of high strength, long survival in the oral environment and favorable aesthetics. In this context, it is essential to know the specificity of each ceramic system available in order to apply it properly to various clinical situations. This report describes an integrated rehabilitation using metal-ceramic restorations of a patient at 50 years of age, who presented edentulous spaces, and previous unsatisfactory composite and amalgam restorations, and indirect metallic restorations, leading to compromised quality of life in both functional and psychosocial aspects. The impact on quality of life was measured using a generic instrument, OHIP-14, validated for the World Health Organization, which covers both the biological and the psychosocial dimensions. This instrument was applied to the patient before and after treatment. The patient had an overall OHIP-14 score of 28 before the treatment and after treatment the score decreased to 0, showing that dental and oral health conditions are factors that do impact on the quality of life. Rehabilitation has provided functional and aesthetic restorations, harmony of the stomatognathic system and improvement of life quality.