Full mouth oral rehabilitation of a severely worn dentition based on a fully digital workflow.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of a complete digital workflow for a full mouth rehabilitation in a severely worn dentition. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The present case report successfully rehabilitated a full-mouth case of a severely worn dentition based on the use of digital technologies, making the diagnosis and treatment process faster, accurate and less expensive. A long-lasting esthetic and functional result are showed after 30-months follow up. CONCLUSIONS: An appropriate knowledge on dental erosion and oral rehabilitation, combined with a digital dentistry approach could lead the clinician to deliver a fast, accurate and predictable noninvasive restorative treatment in cases like the one described. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Bruxism-based severely worn dentition is being found more often in population. In this situation, a detailed diagnosis and tailored treatment are mandatory to obtain a predictable treatment outcome. In this sense, the development of adhesive dentistry, new restorative materials and the incorporation of digital technologies can create a predictable synergy to rehabilitate these types of patients with a modern and less invasive approach.

The influence of management of tooth wear on oral health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of oral health-related quality of life and orofacial appearance in patients with moderate to severe tooth wear. Patients with and without a request for restorative treatment were included. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients (98 men, 26 women, mean age: 40.5 ± 8.8 years) with moderate to severe tooth wear were included. Patients without a request for help received a non-restorative treatment of counseling and monitoring. Patients with a request for restorative treatment were treated with a full rehabilitation using composite resin restorations. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-NL) and Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES-NL) questionnaires were filled in at baseline and after 1 year. RESULTS: Counseling and monitoring group: baseline OHIP-NL score was 0.4 ± 0.3, baseline summary score of OES-NL was 48 ± 7.0, and baseline impression score was 7.1 ± 1.2. Scores had not changed significantly after 1 year (p = 1.00 after Bonferroni correction).Restoration group: baseline OHIP-NL score was 0.8 ± 0.6, baseline summary score of OES-NL was 38 ± 10, and baseline impression score was 5.9 ± 1.5. Scores had improved significantly after 1 year (p < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction). CONCLUSIONS: Counseling and monitoring did not result in a significant deterioration and restorative treatment resulted in a significant improvement of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and orofacial appearance in this patient group. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In patients with moderate to severe tooth wear, without functional and esthetical problems, counseling and monitoring may be an appropriate treatment option. Restorative treatment in patients with a need for treatment results in an improved OHRQoL. OHIP and OES questionnaires may be used to monitor changes in clinically relevant symptoms.

Digital workflow to rehabilitate worn dentition on a non-hinge simulated patient.

This report describes the complete mouth rehabilitation of worn dentition by using a digital workflow on a non-hinge simulated patient. A dentiform was used to simulate a patient with loss of occlusal vertical dimension. Physical diagnostic waxing along with a digital workflow was then used to re-establish the occlusal vertical dimension at the interim and definitive restoration stages.

Using zirconia-based prosthesis in a complete-mouth reconstruction treatment for worn dentition with the altered vertical dimension of occlusion.

This clinical report describes the complete mouth reconstruction of a patient with a worn dentition. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing processed porcelain fused-to-zirconia prostheses were used to achieve good esthetics, function, and biomechanics.

An Update on Crown Lengthening. Part 2: Increasing Clinical Crown Height to Facilitate Predictable Restorations.

This is the second paper in this two-part series. Paper one provided an overview of managing gingival tissue excess and paper two will focus on increasing clinical crown height to facilitate restorative treatment. Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure aimed at the removal of gingival tissue with or without adjunctive bone removal. The different types of procedure undertaken will be discussed over the two papers. In order to provide predictable restorations, care must be taken to ensure the integrity of the margins. If this is not taken into account it can lead to an impingement on the biologic width, which may in turn lead to chronic inflammation resulting in recession or the development of periodontal problems which can be hard to manage. Clinical Relevance: This paper aims to reinforce the need for thorough diagnosis and treatment planning and provides an overview of the various procedures that can be undertaken.

A multidisciplinary approach for the rehabilitation of a patient with an excessively worn dentition: a clinical report.

This clinical report describes a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with a severely worn dentition. The treatment included osteotomy and immediate implant placement and loading in the mandible. The definitive restorations were implant- and tooth-supported metal ceramic restorations. These restorations were fabricated with metal occlusal surfaces at an increased occlusal vertical dimension, which provided acceptable esthetics and function.

Esthetic, occlusal, and periodontal rehabilitation of anterior teeth with minimum thickness porcelain laminate veneers.

Ceramic veneers of minimum thickness provide satisfactory esthetic outcomes while preserving the dental structure. Dental ceramics can both improve the esthetic appearance and reestablish the strength and function of teeth. In worn anterior teeth, functional surfaces, for example, anterior and lateral guidance, can be restored effectively. The characteristics of dental ceramics, such as color stability and mechanical and optical properties, make this material a good choice for indirect restorations, especially when optimum function and esthetics are required. This clinical report presents an occlusal, periodontal, and restorative solution with minimum thickness glass ceramic veneers for worn anterior teeth with multiple diastemas.

A conservative full-mouth ceramic rehabilitation for a severely worn dentition.

There is a constantly growing prevalence of tooth wear in dentistry. The present case report describes a rehabilitation through ceramic restorations of a severely worn dentition based on a conservative intervention, adequate restorative material selection, and adhesive bonding strategies. A 36-year-old patient with a mainly esthetic complaint presented with signs of tooth wear caused by erosion and attrition. Preparations were performed guided by the diagnostic planning. The full-mouth rehabilitation, combined with the correction of the vertical dimension of occlusion, was split into quadrants, and lithium disilicate partial restorations were fabricated. The proposed rehabilitation was based on the maximal preservation of the remaining tooth structure and the adequate selection of restorative materials and adhesive bonding strategies.

Perception of oral health related quality of life and orofacial aesthetics following restorative treatment of tooth wear: A five-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Non-carious tooth wear often has a multifactorial etiology and may lead to functional or aesthetically related problems. The most common complaints associated with tooth wear are dissatisfaction with dental appearance and a negative impact on the experienced Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the change in OHRQoL and the perception of aesthetics, following restorative treatment of moderate to severe tooth wear patients, with a five-year follow-up. METHODS: An explorative study, based on prospective data, was performed. OHRQoL and the perception of aesthetics were measured with the OHIP-NL and OES-NL. These questionnaires were completed before treatment, one month after treatment, and at 1-, 3- and 5-years post-treatment. Treatment involved full mouth reconstruction with composite resin restorations. The data was analysed as repeated measures by using a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three tooth wear patients that received restorative rehabilitation were included (97 males, 26 females, 37.5 ± 8.8 years-old). Data showed a statistically significant increase in both experienced OHRQoL and orofacial appearance after restorative treatment. The OHIP-scores remained stable over time, while the OES-scores slightly decreased during the years after treatment. Regarding the seven domains of the OHIP, the largest difference in OHIP-score was found in the domain of 'Psychological Discomfort'. The mean overall OHIP-score was 1.8 at baseline and 1.3 at the 5-years recall. The mean OES score increased from 41.8 at baseline to 66.1 at the 5-years follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth wear patients reported significant improvements in their OHRQoL and their perception of orofacial aesthetics after restorative treatment. This increase remained at least five years post-treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical impact of restorative treatment for tooth wear patients is considerable. This paper emphasizes the need to include a discussion of the patient related outcome measures when planning care.

Implementation and experience of a new method for posterior vertical bite reconstruction using direct resin composite restorations in the private practice--a survey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present survey was to evaluate the implementation and experience of a new method for posterior vertical bite reconstruction using direct resin composite restorations by private practitioners who attended a hands-on continuing education course on this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the years 2007 and 2008, 17 1-day continuing education courses on vertical bite reconstruction in the worn dentition by using direct resin composite restorations were attended by 310 participants. A 13-item questionnaire was posted to all course participants in April 2009 seeking information on the acceptance, implementation and experience of the presented technique in the private practice. RESULTS: A total of 97 (31%) questionnaires were returned, whereas 67% of the respondents had used the presented technique. Analysis of the overall experience and satisfaction with the placed resin composite restorations using visual analog scale (VAS) revealed a mean VAS score of 7.2 ± 1.7 (0 = maximal unsatisfied, 10 = maximal satisfied). The direct resin composite restorations were predominantly rated 'good' within the assessed criteria surface texture, anatomical form, marginal integrity, marginal discoloration and color match. Ninety-eight percent of the private practitioners stated that they would continue to carry out vertical bite reconstructions according to this technique. The three most frequently observed clinical problems were related to marginal discolorations, bulk fractures and adhesive failures. CONCLUSION: The presented restoration method was well accepted by private practitioners who used this treatment approach at least once after course participation, even though some clinical problems were observed.

Tooth wear and wear investigations in dentistry.

Tooth wear has been recognised as a major problem in dentistry. Epidemiological studies have reported an increasing prevalence of tooth wear and general dental practitioners see a greater number of patients seeking treatment with worn dentition. Although the dental literature contains numerous publications related to management and rehabilitation of tooth wear of varying aetiologies, our understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of tooth wear is still limited. The wear behaviour of dental biomaterials has also been extensively researched to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and for the development of restorative materials with good wear resistance. The complex nature of tooth wear indicates challenges for conducting in vitro and in vivo wear investigations and a clear correlation between in vitro and in vivo data has not been established. The objective was to critically review the peer reviewed English-language literature pertaining to prevalence and aetiology of tooth wear and wear investigations in dentistry identified through a Medline search engine combined with hand-searching of the relevant literature, covering the period between 1960 and 2011.

Preprosthetic orthodontic intervention for management of a partially edentulous patient with generalized wear and malocclusion.

Prosthodontic management of patients with generalized wear of dentition has been well documented in the literature. Although prosthodontic treatment is designed to correct minor malocclusion and interdental spacing, patients with severe malocclusion accompanied by generalized wear may require preprosthetic orthodontic intervention. Few articles have described the comprehensive treatment of adult orthodontic patients with severe wear of teeth. This article describes the multidisciplinary management of an adult patient with multiple missing posterior teeth, malocclusion, and severe wear of anterior teeth. Preprosthetic orthodontic treatment was planned using occlusograms, visualized treatment objective, and sectioned diagnostic waxing for movement of teeth, according to the prosthodontic treatment plan. Temporary anchorage devices were used to accomplish complex orthodontic tooth movements. The definitive treatment included reestablishing appropriate esthetics, and occlusion and restoration of the entire maxillary arch and posterior mandibular dentition with metal ceramic and full gold restorations. At a 2.5-year follow-up, positions of teeth and integrity of the restorations remained stable. Importance of preprosthetic orthodontic treatment and challenges in management of complex esthetic and functional rehabilitations are discussed in this article.

Treatment concept with CAD/CAM-fabricated high-density polymer temporary restorations.

Tooth wear in younger patients is perceived worldwide as an increasing problem. Its etiology is multifactorial (erosion, abrasion, attrition), and its treatment is challenging for the dental practitioner specifically when a great loss of the vertical dimension of occlusion has occurred. The aim of this article is to present a treatment approach for complex cases with high loss of tooth structure using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-fabricated temporary high-density polymer restorations without any preparations. New manufacturing technologies and innovative materials such as high-density polymers offer good possibilities for restorations during the pretreatment period. This is especially important in circumstances requiring massive corrections of color, form, or position. Pretreatment periods are indispensable in refining important factors such as lip-position dynamics as well as the correct position of the smile line, which cannot be adequately assessed in the dental laboratory. In the presented case report, CAD/CAM-fabricated non-preparation restorations were adhesively placed on the worn dentition without any further loss of tooth structure. Such an approach provides the opportunity to "test-drive" the new restoration design in terms of function, phonetics, and esthetics, thus improving the predictability of the definitive restorations design. If any change in the design is required, it can be cost-effectively achieved through simple modification or replacement of the restorations.

Oral rehabilitation of severely worn dentition using an overlay for immediate re-establishment of occlusal vertical dimension.

The aim of this study was to describe the treatment used in an elderly patient presenting with bruxism and dental erosion, with good gingival health and bone support, but with decreased occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). The oral rehabilitation of elderly patients presenting with bruxism in association with tooth erosion has been a great challenge for dentists. The loss of OVD, the presence of occlusal instability and the absence of an effective anterior guide due excessive dental wear, can damage stomatognathic system (SS) biology, the function and the aesthetics. In the first treatment stage, an overlay removable partial denture (ORPD) was fabricated for the immediate re-establishment of function and aesthetics. After a 2-month follow up, with the patient presenting no symptoms, a second rehabilitation stage was accomplished, with fixed and removable prostheses. Oral rehabilitation with an ORPD was able to re-establish the SS biology, but a correct diagnosis and treatment plan are essential for success. The ORPD is a non-invasive and reversible restoring modality for general dentists that allow the re-establishment of the patient's immediate aesthetics and function at low cost.

Full-mouth rehabilitation of a patient with severely worn dentition and uneven occlusal plane: a clinical report.

Severe tooth wear is frequently multifactorial and variable. Successful management is a subject of interest in dentistry. A critical aspect is to determine the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) and a systematic approach that can lead to a predictable and favorable treatment prognosis. Management of patients with worn dentition is complex and difficult. Accurate clinical and radiographic examinations, a diagnostic wax-up, and determining OVD are crucial. Using mini-implants as orthodontic anchorage may facilitate orthodontic movement of teeth to improve their position, which is necessary for favorable prosthetic treatment. A 46-year-old man was referred for restoration of his worn and missing teeth. After diagnostic work-up, provisional removable prostheses were fabricated for both jaws, evaluated clinically, and adjusted according to esthetic, phonetic, and vertical dimension criteria. Clinical crown lengthening and free gingival graft procedures were performed in appropriate areas. Drifting of the left posterior mandibular teeth was corrected using mini-implants as orthodontic anchorage. Two conventional implants were inserted in the right mandibular edentulous area. After endodontic therapy of worn teeth, custom-cast gold dowels and cores were fabricated, and provisional removable prostheses were replaced with fixed provisional restorations. Metal-ceramic restorations were fabricated, and a removable partial denture with attachments was fabricated for maxillary edentulous areas. An occlusal splint was used to protect the restorations. Full-mouth rehabilitation of the patient with severely worn dentition and an uneven occlusal plane was found to be successful after 3 years of follow-up. This result can encourage clinicians to seek accurate diagnosis and treatment planning to treat such patients.

Comparison of load-fatigue performance of posterior ceramic onlay restorations under different preparation designs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the load-fatigue performance of posterior ceramic onlay restorations relative to two variables: preparation design (with or without buccal veneers); and the existing amount of tooth structure (non-worn tooth, worn tooth). METHODS: Sixty extracted third molars were divided into five groups. One group received a mesial-occlusal-distal (MOD) gold onlay restoration (control). The other four experimental groups were prepared for ceramic onlay restorations. Two of the groups additionally received 2-mm occlusal reduction to simulate occlusal wear. All restored teeth were subjected to thermocycling prior to fatigue testing. A fatigue load of 150 N was applied on the occlusal surface at a frequency of 1.2 hz, at an angle of 135 degrees to the long axis of the tooth. Specimen failure was defined as the occurrence of crack propagation in the luting cement layer. This was monitored by the strain gauge on the specimen. RESULTS: All specimens restored on worn tooth had significantly lower fatigue failure cycle counts than those of non-worn tooth. The fracture mode analysis revealed that ceramic fracture tended to be demonstrated only in the group of worn tooth groups. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a buccal veneer component had no significant effect on the load-fatigue performance of posterior ceramic onlay restorations, but the existing amount of tooth structure did have a significant effect on the load-fatigue performance of posterior ceramic onlay restorations. Catastrophic failures (ceramic fracture) occurred only in the group of worn tooth.

Tooth surface loss: tools and tips for management.

UNLABELLED: Tooth surface loss is becoming increasingly prevalent. Many cases can be managed with preventive measures, although there remain a number of patients for whom restorative intervention is indicated. Traditional treatment modalities have entailed extensive 'full-mouth' indirect restoration, although this approach has a number of disadvantages. Contemporary restorative techniques allow for a broader range of treatment options: this paper presents an overview of common issues and clinical techniques to overcome these. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment options and guidance for managing patients who present with tooth surface loss.

[Application of digital technology in esthetic and functional rehabilitation of severely worn dentition].

Severely worn dentition seriously affects patient's esthetics and function. Its etiology is complex, differential diagnosis is difficult, treatment process involves multiple disciplines, and requires esthetic and functional rehabilitation. A "8-step sequential treatment" for the rehabilitation of severely worn dentition has been established. In recent years, digital technology has been increasingly applied to the esthetic and functional rehabilitation of severely worn dentition. This article will describe the application of digital methods in the 8-step sequential treatment of severely worn dentition.

Maxillary overlay removable partial dentures for the restoration of worn teeth.

Prolonged tooth maintenance by a more aged population considerably increases the probability of dentists having to treat patients with high levels of tooth wear. Pathological tooth wear, caused primarily by parafunction, seems to be a growing problem that affects a large number of adult patients. The clinical report presents a case of a partially edentulous patient with an elevated degree of wear in the upper jaw caused by attrition and erosion, rehabilitated with a maxillary overlay removable partial denture (ORPD) consisting of a chrome-cobalt (Cr-Co) framework with anterior acrylic resin veneers, posterior cast overlays, and acrylic resin denture bases. Removable partial prosthesis is a treatment alternative when teeth are found to be severely worn or when the patient needs a simple and economical option. Because economics is a conditional factor of the treatment, the clinician should present different treatment alternatives to the patient, in which the overlay prosthesis can be considered.

Feldspathic veneers: what are their indications?

Many different materials and treatment options are available in esthetic and restorative dentistry. Various newer products, such as pressed ceramics, offer enhanced functionality; however, in thinner dimensions, they lack the inherent esthetic beauty of traditional materials such as feldspathic porcelain. As patient demands for better esthetics have increased in recent years, so too has the need for restorative materials that closely mimic the patient's natural dentition. Initially used for the creation of porcelain dentures, feldspathic porcelain has emerged as the premier esthetic material for custom veneer restorations. In recent years, the use of hand-layered powder/liquid feldspathic porcelain has been revived based on its highly esthetic values and little-to-no preparation requirements. By keeping preparation to a minimum, less tooth structure is lost and procedures are much less invasive, which is exactly what patients desire.