Reproducing the Natural Play of Colors in a Limited Space Using VITA LUMEX AC Veneering Ceramic

Master Dental Technician Marcio Breda, Dentist Dr. Estefânia Donato,
Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

When veneers are used for cosmetic reconstructions, preserving tooth substance is a high priority. In these cases, patients are often treated using highly individualized, hand-layered veneers. The challenge when it comes to dental technology is in precisely reproducing the natural play of colors and light within a limited space. This requires veneering ceramics with high luminosity, such as the new VITA LUMEX AC, which reliably produces ideal light dynamics, even with minimum wall thicknesses. In addition, the veneering ceramic applied must have good fracture strength in order to ensure safe manual reworking and seating with this delicate type of reconstruction.

In the following case study, Master Dental Technician Marcio Breda and Dentist Dr. Estefânia Donato, show how a patient was supplied with highly esthetic hand-layered veneers made from the leucite-reinforced, glass-ceramic veneering ceramic VITA LUMEX AC.

Initial situation vs. final result

Die Veneers aus VITA LUMEX AC zeigten eine hervorragende Lichtdynamik und ein sehr gutes Farbspiel.

Initial situation: The immediate temporary restoration was created with a silicone key of the mock-up.

Individually layered veneers for harmonious incisal edges and uniform tooth color

A 35-year-old patient visited the dentist’s office, as she was dissatisfied with the esthetics of her anterior maxillary region. The clinical examination showed very irregular incisal edges. The dental arch and the gingival profile were not harmonious. The length to width ratio was also not adequate. Previous defects were filled with lifeless composite fillings, and teeth 11 and 21 were discolored. The patient wanted a level dental arch, uniform tooth color and an individualized, age-appropriate appearance for her anterior maxillary region. She agreed to use individually layered veneers made of VITA LUMEX AC veneering ceramic for the restoration.

Planning and preparation

A wax-up was created to help visualise the outcome of the treatment. After a few minor changes, a silicone key was produced on the wax-up in order to transfer a direct mock-up into the patient’s mouth using low viscosity, temporary composite. The patient and dentist were satisfied with the results. Local anesthetic was applied to the anterior maxillary region and tooth shade A1 was selected for the restorations using the VITA classical A1–D4 shade guide. After a full crown preparation was performed for teeth 13 to 23, gingival resection on 11 and 21, and impressions were taken of the upper and lower maxillary region, another direct temporary restoration was created intraorally using the silicone key. A master model was made with refractory dies in the laboratory and articulated with the opposing jaw model.

Production of the master model.

$Refractory dies were produced using the master model.$

Refractory dies were produced using the master model.

The finished master model was ready for fabrication of the veneers.

Reliable reproduction of the play of light

The basic tooth shade determined was initially reproduced on refractory dies with VITA LUMEX AC DENTINE A1, followed by a central accentuation using TRANSLUCENT smoky-white. A bluish play of light was integrated by applying TRANSLUCENT waterdrop on the edges. The anatomy of the mamelons was reproduced using MAMELON saffron. The final shape of six veneers was then contoured with bluish-translucent ENAMEL light to reconstruct the play of light and color on the enamel. The ceramic enabled high-precision modelling during the entire layering process, thanks to its extremely high stability brought about by excellent micro-serration of the ceramic particles. Additionally, the extremely thin veneers showed excellent shape stability after firing. The finalization was ultimately carried out using fine diamond instruments and polishers in order to achieve completely natural-looking results in terms of shape, texture and degree of gloss.

The mamelons were further accentuated with MAMELON saffron.

The final shaping of the six veneers was performed using ENAMEL light.

Natural vibrance in the results

During the initial try-in, the patient was already enthusiastic about the results. For the final seating, a rubber dam was placed before conditioning the tooth. After appropriate conditioning of the tooth substance, as well as hydrofluoric acid etching and silanization of the veneers, a full-adhesive integration with composite cement was applied. Despite the limited space, the veneers made of VITA LUMEX AC ceramic showed excellent light dynamics and an outstanding play of colors with depth effects.