Talmadge D. Wilkins IV, DMD
A 71-year-old woman presented with worn anterior dentition, several diastemas, and a dissatisfaction with the general appearance of her smile. After a comprehensive examination, bite analysis, and esthetic evaluation, the patient agreed to treatment comprising a combination of all-ceramic crowns and veneers on teeth Nos. 4 through 14 and 23 through 26, which would accommodate her functional and esthetic desires. Because of the patient's time constraints due to an upcoming event, a complete digital workflow was used to speed up the treatment. Digital photographs and intraoral scans were taken, and a digital smile design was performed in exocad software, aimed at providing optimal esthetics and establishing functional guidance to enhance long-term success. The final restorations were made from fully polymerized, lithium-disilicate GC Initial® LiSi Block (shade B1) (GC America, gc.dental/america) on a four-axis CAD/CAM milling machine. Being fully crystalized, the blocks provided the restorations smooth, accurately milled margins and natural esthetics without firing. Slight stain and glaze were applied to the restorations with GC Initial® Lustre Paste NF. The veneers were dual-cure bonded using GC's G-CEM LinkForce® (shade A2), and the crowns were dual-cure bonded using GC's G-CEM ONE™ in the posterior. With careful digital planning and execution and state-of-the-art restorative materials, the clinician accommodated the patient's needs in less than a week.
Key Takeaways
Using a combination of digital photography, intraoral scanning, and digital planning software can
accelerate the process of creating complex and esthetic dental rehabilitations.
Because GC Initial LiSi Block is fully crystalized, it gives the milled restorations smooth and accurate margins and natural-looking esthetics without the need for firing.
In cases where a digital dental workflow can hasten and enhance final outcomes, having a thorough knowledge of smile design, esthetics, and functional occlusion is paramount to achieving world-class results.
About the Author
Talmadge D. Wilkins IV, DMD
Private Practice, Aiken, South Carolina; Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry
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