Reconstruction of the Vertical Jaw Relation Using CAD/CAM

There can be severe loss of the vertical dimension of occlusion due to chemical, mechanical and traumatic causes. This can give rise to both esthetic and functional problems for the patient. Restoration is possible usually only by redesigning the occlusal surfaces. The prosthetic readjustment of the vertical jaw relation represents a considerable intervention in the stomatognathic system, requiring predictable, minimally invasive methods. Longterm provisional solutions clearly superior to pure splint therapy can be produced by means of new CAD/CAM techniques. They are inserted permanently and only in this way can the patient test the new occlusal situation and the success of treating functional disorders be verified. A further major advantage then becomes apparent when the final restoration is produced. The previously adjusted and tested occlusion is retained and every tooth can be treated and restored individually. Long treatment sessions are thus a thing of the past. Keywords: bite raising, CAD/CAM, long-term temporaries, occlusion, onlays, total prosthetic restoration, splint therapy, vertical occlusal dimension