DIGITAL VERSUS ANALOG WORKFLOW FOR SIX UPPER VENEERS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Aim of the study: This article aims at presenting a case of six upper veneers both using a full digital protocol and an analog protocol respectively in order to assess the esthetic and functional outcomes, workflow, time, costs and patient’s preferences. Material and Methods: For the digital workflow, a previsualization of the case was made using Smile Cloud application. A digital wax-up was performed and a printed model was used for the clinical mock-up. Guided teeth preparations from canine to canine according to the approved initial design were performed together with an intraoral scanning. Six upper monolithic veneers were milled. For the conventional method, analog data acquisition was performed in order to design the analog wax-up. Further, a mock-up was made in order to assess the future esthetic and functional result. After intraoral scanning of the preps, in the same appointment, polyether impressions, a facebow and occlusal registrations and a shade map were sent to the dental technician in order to design six upper feldspathic veneers. Results: The final restorations chosen by the patient were those made by using the digital workflow due to the final esthetic result: natural micro and macro textures, shade integration with the adjacent teeth and improved tooth and tooth-to-tooth proportions. Conclusions: The digital workflow was less time consuming, more predictable and less provocative in terms of possible incidents and corrections. Concerning esthetics outcomes, a better macro and micro texture of the final milled veneers was obtained.

Keywords

• digital workflow
• analog workflow
• digital smile design
• veneers