The Final Touch" Creating an Ideal Surface Finish in Dental Restorations: Part 2

The final touches of contour, texture, surface colorants, and luster can take average looking dental restorations and create an exceptionally esthetic result. The esthetics of the natural teeth, that is, the individual form, texture patterns, and color characteristics of teeth and the inter-relationships between teeth are described. The specific armamentaria and techniques to create ideal surfaces both in color, texture, and surface luster, especially with the recently introduced monolithic materials such as translucent zirconia, high strength machinable glass-ceramics, and resin based composites are described. These steps are critical to the success of dental restorations, resin composites or ceramics alike. These skills are more necessary now than ever, as monolithic restorations are the predominant type of indirect restorations being used in dentistry.