Patient maintenance of esthetic restorations

There are probably as many ways to maintain esthetic restorations as there are restorations. After esthetic treatment is completed, schedule a mandatory postoperative appointment to make certain that whatever technique the patient uses is effective. At the postoperative visit, it should be apparent that the patient's tissue is healthy. If the tissue has not healed, some change in home care or additional periodontal or restorative treatment may be necessary. There are virtually hundreds, perhaps even thousands of home plaque removal devices. The ones mentioned here have worked for us and are therefore discussed. It isn't the type of device that is critical, however, but patient compliance. The described regimens have worked effectively for us in overcoming this obstacle of compliance. Appropriate recall visits with the hygienist should be made at one- to six-month intervals. In the final analysis, your success with esthetic restorations may well depend on your patients' success with esthetic maintenance.