Biomechanics and Function: Altering Paradigms to Treat a Patient's Esthetic Disability Conservatively

As conservative dentistry has progressed in recent years, new developments in bonding protocols have enabled clinicians to predictably utilize restorative material on any surface of the tooth to achieve treatment goals. One such advancement is the bonding of composite and indirect restorations to the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth to modify the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). In this case presentation involving a patient with a constricted chewing pattern (CCP) who did not want orthodontic therapy, conservative treatment focused on increasing the patient's OVD using a combination of direct and indirect restorations in an attempt to alleviate the CCP. This minimally invasive additive approach addressed the esthetics in the case while limiting functional and biomechanical risks.