Can a single-shade resin composite mask darkened teeth in a veneer restoration? A clinical case report

The use of single-shade dental composites is a promising alternative to multi-shade resin-based composite (RBC). These materials are distinguished by an absence of pigments in their composition, enhancing colour stability, simplifying shade matching and reducing costs. These new strategies are increasingly used to achieve a technical simplification. This study reports a case of a direct composite veneer restoration for a discoloured anterior tooth using a combination of a resin blocker and a single-shade RBC. A 53-year-old male patient presented at the clinic, reporting a problem with a discoloured maxillary left central incisor. The restoration procedure was performed under rubber dam isolation. After veneer cavity preparation, selective acid etching on the enamel and the application of a universal adhesive system, a 1 mm layer of blocker resin was applied. This was followed by an application of the single-shade RBC. Visual and photographic assessments of the clinical outcome demonstrated satisfactory results, with the restoration colour harmoniously matching the tooth's natural colour. Patient satisfaction was evaluated through a questionnaire, with a positive outcome reported. Despite being a monochromatic composite resin, the combined use of single-shade and blocker resins presents a viable alternative for aesthetically restoring discoloured teeth and seems to simplify the restorative technique for producing an aesthetic result.