3D-Printed Ultra-Thin Non-Prep Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Proof-of-Concept Clinical Case

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Tooth wear necessitates restorative solutions.
• Ultra-thin veneers offer a minimally invasive treatment option.
• Lithium disilicate is a biocompatible and esthetic ceramic material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical applicability of lithium disilicate veneers fabricated using Laser Cusing Manufacturing (LCM) 3D printing.
• To assess the feasibility of producing ultra-thin, non-preparation (non-prep) veneers with this technology.

Main Methods:

• Intraoral scanning of a patient with tooth wear.
• Design and LCM 3D printing of six ultra-thin (0.1-0.2 mm) lithium disilicate non-prep veneers.
• Post-printing processing including debinding, sintering, support removal, and characterization.

Main Results:

• The LCM-printed ultra-thin non-prep lithium disilicate veneers demonstrated excellent clinical fit and esthetics upon try-in.
• The LCM technology successfully produced veneers with layer thicknesses as low as 0.1 mm.
• The fabrication process was technically feasible.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing of ultra-thin non-prep lithium disilicate veneers is clinically feasible.
• LCM additive manufacturing presents a potential alternative to conventional and subtractive fabrication methods for dental veneers.
• The study highlights the potential of advanced manufacturing techniques in restorative dentistry.