Dental anomalies--are adhesive castings the solution?

Area of Science:

• Restorative Dentistry
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Amelogenesis imperfecta and dentinogenesis imperfecta are genetic disorders affecting tooth structure.
• These conditions often lead to severe tooth wear, aesthetic concerns, and functional deficits.
• Restoring affected teeth, especially in growing children, presents unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adhesive cast restorations placed without tooth preparation.
• To assess the functional restoration and long-term retention of these restorations in young patients.
• To determine the impact on vertical dimension and occlusion.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 12 patients (ages 7-18) with amelogenesis or dentinogenesis imperfecta.
• Placement of 64 adhesive cast restorations without requiring tooth preparation.
• Restorations were cemented, increasing vertical dimension and restoring full occlusion.

Main Results:

• Full occlusion was successfully restored in all patients.
• Only one of the 64 cast restorations was lost during the observation period.
• Restorations were in place for intervals ranging from 10 to 54 months.

Conclusions:

• Adhesive cast restorations without tooth preparation are a viable treatment option for teeth affected by amelogenesis or dentinogenesis imperfecta.
• This minimally invasive approach offers excellent functional restoration and high durability in pediatric patients.
• The technique effectively manages occlusal rehabilitation and vertical dimension increase in these challenging cases.