cosmetic dentistry - beauty & science

28 I I industry report _ composite restorations surface by hand. In order to hide the transition line between the tooth and the translucent composite material, a thin band of the opaque G-ænial in spe- cial shade AO2 is applied inside. This layer should notbeextendedtoofartotheendoftheincisaledge or the gingival preparation line to avoid the opaque material shining through (Fig. 8). _Step 6 The rest of the dentine layers and mamelon structurearecreatedwithG-ænialinshadeA2.This layer should also be thin and even more thinned out in the area of the incisal edge, so as not to block the natural translucency (Fig. 9). _Step 7 On top of this, a thin layer of very translucent G-ænial TE extending to the end of the incisal edge isplacedtomimicthescleroticdentinelayer(Fig.10). This layer helps to create a depth effect and there- fore the incisal edge looks more natural. Note that, at this stage, sufficient space has been left for the thick outermost translucent layer. _Step 8 The outermost translucent layer is created in the same external special shade used to form the first palatal layer, G-ænial IE (Fig. 11). _Step 9 The restoration is polished with diamond and Sof-Lex discs (3M ESPE) to recreate the natural surface morphology of the tooth. The final gloss was achieved by meansofaGradiaDiapolisher(GC). The final image of the restoration reveals good translucency and a lifelike incisal edge (Figs. 12 & 13). _Conclusion Thistechniqueusesonlyfouror fivedifferentlayersofacomposite material in three or four opacities, and yields a predictable result. For this reason, it can be used in daily practice for every Class IV or bro- ken incisal edge restoration. The composite material blends with the natural tooth structure so well that the preparation line is invisible and the restorations are well integrated. The extent of the anatomical layering depends on the class and size of the lesion. With small Class III and Class V resto- rations, it is easier to achieve good aesthetics with one or two layers of the composite material. How- ever, with large Class IV restorations, use of this technique should be routine, along with a compos- ite material featuring a wide range of translucent shades, natural opalescence and fluorescence to recreate a natural appearance._ cosmeticdentistry 3_2012 Dr Valdas Vilkinis was born in 1965 in Kaunas,Lithuania. He obtained his dentistry degree at the Kaunas University of Medicine in 1991. After graduating,he served as a clinical instructor at the Faculty of Dentistry at the Kaunas University of Medicine until 2000.From 1993 to 1994,he undertook a postgraduate course on cariology,preventive and operative dentistry, and endodontics at the Royal Dental College ofAarhus atAarhus University in Denmark. He defended his doctoral thesis in 2000. He has worked in private practice in Kaunas since 1999.DrVilkinis has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Research since 2010.He has held a consultancy agreement with GC Europe since 2000.He also lectures and offers hands-on courses on restorative techniques in Lithuania,Latvia,Estonia and Finland. _about the author cosmeticdentistry Fig. 12 Fig. 13 Fig. 10 Fig. 11