Bonding porcelain laminate veneer provisional restorations: An experimental study

Minimal tooth preparation is required for porcelain laminate veneers, but an interim restoration is anticipated by patients to protect their teeth against thermal insult, chemical irritation, and to provide esthetics. Cement remaining after the removal of the provisional restoration can impair the etching quality of the tooth surface and the fit and final bonding of the porcelain laminate veneer.

This in vitro study inspected the tooth surface for remaining debris from cement after removal of a provisional restoration.

Seventy-two extracted natural anterior teeth were prepared for porcelain laminate veneers. For half of the teeth, the smear layer was removed before luting provisional restorations. Veneer provisional restorations were fabricated and luted to teeth with 3 bonding methods: temporary eugenol-free cement, spot etching combined with dual-curing luting cement, and polyurethane adhesive combined with dual-curing luting cement. After removal of provisional restorations 1 week later, the tooth surface was examined for residual luting material with an SEM.

Traces of cement debris were found on provisionally prepared teeth for all 3 material methods.

The use of polyurethane adhesive combined with the dual-curing cement revealed significantly less teeth with debris than the other methods. This difference was less distinct when the smear layer was removed.