Treatment times for three different types of veneer restorations

In a longitudinal clinical trial the treatment times needed for the fabrication of veneer restorations (VRs) were recorded and analysed. Treatment times were determined for: (1) direct resin composite (DC), (2) indirect resin composite (IC) and (3) porcelain (P) veneer restorations and for two preparation designs, with and without incisal coverage. Significant effects on the treatment times were found for the factors: (1) type of VR, (2) operator, (3) number of VRs and (4) 'problems' in try-in phase for indirect VRs (IC- and P-VRs). The mean total time needed to perform one DC-VR was 46 min with a 95% confidence interval (c.i.) of 40-54 min, for one IC-VR 70 min (c.i. 60-82 min) and for one P-VR 62 min (c.i. 53-71 min). In the cases where more than one VRs were placed in one patient the times per VR were respectively: DC, 38 min (c.i. 34-44 min); IC, 59 min (c.i. 52-67 min); P, 49 min (c.i. 44-55 min). The results of this study are considered to be useful in further cost-benefit analyses.