Esthetic alumina and zirconia rehabilitation: a team approach to treatment planning and material selection

Abstract

To meet the ever-increasing demands of well-informed patients, an interdisciplinary team approach is imperative to achieve optimal esthetics and function in complex rehabilitations. Orthodontic pretreatment is one viable option to improve a clinical situation prior to restorative treatment. An individual diagnostic waxup can be used to educate patients about treatment options, lower unrealistic expectations, and serve the technician as a blueprint for ideal framework design. Newly developed dental materials and computer technology have led to new restorative treatment options for both conventional and implant-retained restorations. With the increased processing power of computers over the past decade, computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture (CAD/ CAM) copings, frameworks, and abutments for conventional and implant-supported restorations have significantly altered treatment protocols for dentists and dental technicians. CAD/CAM-generated oxide ceramic components can be used to achieve optimal esthetics in any area of the mouth.