Treating a young adult with bonded porcelain veneers

Esthetic dental treatment for young adults can be challenging. Practitioners often use direct composite bonding in children and teenagers, and often it serves them for many years. However, direct composite bonding has its limitations (such as staining and chipping), and bonded porcelain often is needed.

The authors describe an 18-year-old woman who sought esthetic dental treatment. After her dentist discussed treatment options with her, she opted to receive bonded porcelain veneers. The dentist chose a lithium disilicate material on the basis of its strength and esthetic properties. Although the first set of veneers matched the patient's natural teeth well, they did not satisfy her objective of eliminating the white mottling that existed on her natural teeth. Therefore, the dental technician prepared a second set of restorations by cutting back the facial incisal areas slightly in wax to allow creation of incisal effects and by pressing them with a brighter ingot.

Collaboration between the dentist and dental technician is essential to achieving treatment success. Likewise, it is important to secure the patient's input during the process, as he or she often has ideas regarding his or her smile that are different from those of the dental team.