Use of Additive Waxup and Direct Intraoral Mock-up for Enamel Preservation with Porcelain Laminate Veneers

Erosion and surface wear result in the progressive thinning of enamel, ultimately generating increased crown flexibility and higher enamel surface strains. The restoration of tooth volume through the use of bonded porcelain veneers not only reestablishes the original and youthful appearance of the smile, but also allows biomimetic recovery of the crown. The driving force of this process should be the preservation of the remaining enamel. Traditional approaches to veneer preparation can lead to major dentin exposures. Enamel preservation can still be achieved with bonded porcelain veneer restorations, however, given a proper approach to tooth preparation. This article describes a treatment rationale that includes the use of a diagnostic template. This technique, presented here in a clinical case with moderate enamel loss, integrates an additive waxup and a direct intraoral acrylic mock-up. Using this strategy, clinicians should be able to perform tooth preparations that are both more accurate and also higher in quality in an extremely time-efficient fashion compared with traditional methods.