Incisal coverage or not in ceramic laminate veneers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There is no consensus on whether incisal coverage is a risk or a protective factor in preparations for ceramic veneers.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the survival rates of preparation designs for ceramic veneers with and without incisal coverage.

Primary clinical studies with the following characteristics were included: 1) studies related to ceramic laminate veneers and 2) prospective or retrospective studies conducted in humans. From the selected studies, the survival rates and failures rates for ceramic veneers were extracted according to preparation design, with or without incisal coverage. The Cochran Q test and the I(2) statistic were used to evaluate heterogeneity. Metaregression, meta-analysis were performed. Two reviewers searched in the MEDLINE (Pubmed) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central) electronic databases, from 1977 to June 5, 2016, without language restrictions.

Eight studies out of 1145 articles initially identified were included for risk of bias and systematic assessment. No study was identified for crystalline ceramic veneers. The estimated survival rate for laminate veneers with incisal coverage was 88% and 91% for those without incisal coverage. Incisal coverage presented an OR of 1.25.

Irrespective of the preparation designs, with or without incisal coverage, ceramic veneers showed high survival rates. As regard implications for future clinical research studies, randomized clinical studies are necessary to compare preparation designs with and without incisal coverage, and to provide clear descriptions of these preparation designs.