Esthetic restoration for anterior teeth with the hot pressed porcelain laminate veneers

PURPOSE: To evaluate the esthetic effect of anterior porcelain veneers fabricated with the heat pressed glass ceramic. METHODS: Thirty-two patients, who wanted to receive a aesthetic restorative treatment for 206 anterior teeth were selected. Among them, 20 were for dental fluorosis, 8 were for light tetracycline stained teeth, the other 4 were labial enamel hypoplasia or obvious crack on the surface of enamel. According to the color of adjacent teeth,skin and lips, heat pressed IPS e.max ingots of different color were chosen to mold the restorations. Afterwards, special straining technique was conducted on the marginal ridge and incisor ridge of the veneers after carefully trimmed in the mouth. Restorations were them bonded with Variolink II resin cement. After 7 years of follow-up, a modified USPHS criterion was used to evaluate the esthetic effect. RESULTS: The translucency of veneers was superior. Marginal integrity of the veneers was perfect and it docked well with the marginal terminate line of the abutment. There was no edge coloring after the veneers were used for 7 years, and the veneers produce an excellent chameleon effect by absorbing the color of adjacent teeth and gums, at the same time, veneers could produce a feature of surface morphology of natural enamel after careful carve. In the long-term clinical observation, 5 of the 206 veneers were fractured or fell off. CONCLUSIONS: This porcelain laminate veneers fabricated from the heat pressed IPS e.max Press ingots include the following advantages, such as simple operating procedure, high mechanical strength, very little dental tissue was ground off and nice aesthetic effect. Ultra-thin veneers are especially suitable for aesthetic practice to dental fluorosis, light tetracycline and natural worn teeth.