Closing diastemas and creating artificial gingiva with polymer ceramics

A 40-year-old male patient elected orthodontic correction of his crowded anterior teeth, leaving multiple root exposures and spacing in the papilla areas. Connective tissue surgery did not satisfy the patient's expectations and led him to seek alternative treatments. An innovative technique was developed to achieve root coverage and fill-in spaces in the papilla areas. This noninvasive technique used a polymer ceramic material that was bonded to the crown and root surface of the individual teeth. The veneer restorations were inserted on the teeth as a solid unit, then separated into individual units. Clinically, the hygiene, which has been monitored since the placement of the restorations 24 months ago, has been satisfactory. This case illustrates an attenuation of a previously described noninvasive laboratory technique to close spaces between teeth. This conservative method can be used to cover denuded root surfaces that may exhibit sensitivity. Although the treatment has been successful for the short-term, the results are promising and deserve further case-controlled clinical assessment.