The Effect of Isolation and Dehydration on Shade Matching.

Rubber dams are frequently used to enable clinicians to achieve better visualization and isolation for dental procedures. Growing in popularity thanks in part to an increasing number of techniques facilitating their placement, rubber dams are able to be used for myriad restorative procedures, including crown and veneer preparation and cementation. An effect of rubber dam use is reduction of saliva, which causes temporary dehydration of the isolated teeth. In turn, this dehydration affects shade matching, an important aspect of esthetic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that shade is altered from baseline due to dehydration from rubber dam use during restorative procedures, and, furthermore, to determine the length of time required for teeth to rehydrate back to their baseline shade.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Esthetic Excellence: Every Detail Matters.

Social media has flooded the Internet with beautiful "before and after" photographs of porcelain restorations. While these images can help promote the benefits of cosmetic dentistry, one of the problems this can lead to is patients mistakenly assuming that such restorations are simple to achieve. They may fail to realize that multiple steps need to be taken to attain such esthetic results, with each step requiring meticulous attention to detail. What some patients may not appreciate is the precision that goes into every step and which is critical to achieving long-term success. From preparation design and material choice, to selecting the correct bonding protocol and cements, no steps in the restorative process can be overlooked or deemed less important than others. The case presented describes a smile rehabilitation with proper isolation and cementation protocols.

A Systematic Approach to Full-Mouth Rehabilitation of a Complex Case Using a Digital Workflow, Proper Isolation.

To achieve excellence in dentistry, a multitude of steps needs to be completed. From performing a thorough history, to diagnosis and treatment planning, all the way to accurate insertion of the restorations, every aspect of the restorative process requires careful thought and precision, especially in a complex case. This article describes a stepwise approach to completing a full-mouth rehabilitation using an entirely digital approach. Additionally, it discusses ideal measures of isolation and bonding as pertaining to all-ceramic restorations. Through utilizing a systematic strategy, the clinician can establish a predictable path to ensure a successful result.