Preventing Porcelain Fractures During Endodontic Treatment.

Attempting endodontic access through ceramic or veneering porcelain can be wrought with challenges. Clinicians must take every precaution to assist patients who are in pain without causing harm through chipping or fracturing the restoration. This article discusses strategies clinicians can consider when facing the task of achieving endodontic access through an all-ceramic crown.

Quo vadis, esthetic dentistry? Ceramic veneers and overtreatment-A cautionary tale.

The increased emphasis on orofacial esthetics, experienced both by dental professionals and the lay public, results in an environment where overtreatment can easily occur. Patients on the one hand feel pressure from esthetic norms that are often unrealistic, while dental professionals are compelled to deliver immediate results many times without considering what is best for the ill-informed patient. This article is an illustrated cautionary tale against overtreatment disguised as esthetic dentistry.

The Photoshop Smile Design Technique.

Esthetic or cosmetic dentistry has become one of the main areas of dental practice emphasis and growth for the past several decades. Many articles have been written and courses taught over the years on concepts of smile design to develop a treatment plan for an esthetic outcome for the patient. The beauty of digital smile design is that patients can see the potential esthetic outcomes of treatment options in minutes.

The clinical management of awake bruxism.

Background: Awake bruxism is a common clinical condition that often goes undetected, often leading to pain or damaged teeth and restorations.

Methods: The authors searched electronic databases regarding the treatment and effects of awake bruxism compared with those of sleep bruxism. The authors used the search terms diurnal bruxism and oral parafunction.

A Technique Using Calibrated Photography and Photoshop for Accurate Shade Analysis and Communication.

This article reviews the critical aspects of controlling the shade-taking environment and discusses various modalities introduced throughout the years to acquire and communicate shade information. Demonstrating a highly calibrated digital photographic technique for capturing shade information, this article shows how to use Photoshop® to standardize images and extract color information from the tooth and shade tab for use by a ceramist for an accurate shade-matching restoration.

Microleakage around Class V Composite Restorations after Ultrasonic Scaling and Sonic Toothbrushing around their Margin.

Objectives: To measure microleakage around class V composite restorations after piezoelectric ultrasonic scaling and sonic toothbrushing.

Methods: 3 mm × 2 mm × 1.5 mm boxes were prepared on buccal and lingual surfaces of extracted molars centered on the cementum-enamel junction.

Vonlays: a conservative esthetic alternative to full-coverage crowns.

Porcelain veneers have long been a popular restorative option that have evolved into a well-accepted treatment that can be fabricated in various ways. Onlays are another common treatment modality used in contemporary dentistry to restore large areas of decay and to replace old restorations. With the availability of newer high-strength materials such as lithium disilicate and processing technologies like CAD/CAM and heat pressing, dental professionals are now able to produce highly esthetic, high-strength restorations that blend seamlessly with the natural dentition while also withstanding posterior occlusal forces.