Optimizing the esthetics of Class IV restorations with composite resins

Direct bonding is the most commonly-used treatment for the conservative esthetic restoration of anterior teeth. Class IV defects deserve special attention because of their high incidence in anterior teeth. One of the major challenges for the practitioner treating defects in this category is disguising the fracture line, through the correct use of masking and restorative resins, to make the restoration imperceptible to the eye. This paper discusses the morphologic, histologic, and optical characteristics, as well as the polychromy of sound natural teeth, and the way they correlate with composite restoratives.