Advanced restorative management of focal microdontia: A brief review and case report.

Focal microdontia is a dental anomaly characterized by the presence of a single abnormally small anterior or posterior tooth. The objective of this article is to provide an updated review of the literature on the advanced restorative management of focal microdontia, and to document a clinical case where the reviewed advanced restorative approaches were applied to treat a young adult presenting with a non-syndromic asymmetrical focal microdontia.We conducted a preliminary examination of the existing literature on the advanced restorative management of focal microdontia. Additionally, we presented a minimally invasive approach to the treatment of an 18-year-old female patient with non-syndromic asymmetrical focal microdontia. The primary advantage of adhesive dentistry is that it can better preserve the structure of smaller teeth. A review of literature reveals a paucity of reports on localized microdontia in the maxillary anterior region of the mouth. However, novel minimally invasive restorative procedures satisfy patients' aesthetic and functional preferences. Well-executed additive diagnostic wax-ups and intraoral mock-ups can serve as a permanent restoration blueprint, providing predictable results for focal dental anomalies in the aesthetic zone. In conclusion, the use of minimally invasive dental approaches in young patients with focal microdontia can result in long-term satisfactory aesthetic outcomes.

Diagnostic Mock-Up as a Surgical Reduction Guide for Crown Lengthening: Technique Description and Case Report.

Background and Objectives: The report describes a technique using a diagnostic mock-up as a crown-lengthening surgical guide to improve the gingival architecture. Materials and Methods: The patient's primary concern was improving her smile due to her "gummy smile" and short clinical crowns. After clinical evaluation, surgical crown lengthening accompanied by maxillary central full-coverage single-unit prostheses and lateral incisor veneers was recommended. The diagnostic mock-up was placed in the patient's maxillary anterior region and used as a soft tissue reduction guide for the gingivectomy. Once the planned gingival architecture was achieved, a flap was reflected to proceed with ostectomy in order to obtain an appropriate alveolar bone crest level using the overlay. After six months, all-ceramic crowns and porcelain veneers were provided as permanent restorations. Results: A diagnostic mock-up fabricated with a putty guide directly from the diagnostic wax-up can be an adequate surgical guide for crown-lengthening procedures. The diagnostic wax-up was used to fabricate the diagnostic mock-up. These results suggested that it can be used as a crown-lengthening surgical guide to modify the gingival architecture. Several advantages of the overlay used in the aesthetic complex case include: (1) providing a preview of potential restorative outcomes, (2) allowing for the appropriate positioning of gingival margins and the desired alveolar bone crest level for the crown-lengthening procedure, and (3) serving as a provisional restoration after surgery. Conclusions: The use of a diagnostic mock-up, which was based on a diagnostic wax-up, as the surgical guide resulted in successful crown lengthening and provisional restorations. Thus, a diagnostic overlay can be a viable option as a surgical guide for crown lengthening.