Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study

<i>Background</i>: Lithium disilicate ceramic veneers are considered the gold standard in aesthetic dentistry due to their translucency, strength, and adhesive bonding properties. This clinical case report details the aesthetic rehabilitation of a patient through the use of pressed lithi...

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Main Authors: Jose Villalobos-Tinoco, Franciele Floriani, Silvia Rojas-Rueda, Salwa Mekled, Clint Conner, Staley Colvert, Carlos A. Jurado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Clinics and Practice
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/3/66
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author Jose Villalobos-Tinoco
Franciele Floriani
Silvia Rojas-Rueda
Salwa Mekled
Clint Conner
Staley Colvert
Carlos A. Jurado
author_facet Jose Villalobos-Tinoco
Franciele Floriani
Silvia Rojas-Rueda
Salwa Mekled
Clint Conner
Staley Colvert
Carlos A. Jurado
author_sort Jose Villalobos-Tinoco
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background</i>: Lithium disilicate ceramic veneers are considered the gold standard in aesthetic dentistry due to their translucency, strength, and adhesive bonding properties. This clinical case report details the aesthetic rehabilitation of a patient through the use of pressed lithium disilicate veneers, highlighting the treatment workflow, material selection rationale, and the long-term functional and aesthetic outcomes achieved. <i>Methods</i>: A review was conducted to evaluate the long-term success of lithium disilicate. A case study is presented that involves a 32-year-old female patient with anterior tooth discoloration, minor morphological discrepancies, and a desire for smile enhancement. A conservative approach using pressed lithium disilicate was chosen to restore harmony and enhance natural aesthetics. The treatment involved minimally invasive tooth preparation, digital smile design, and adhesive cementation using a total-etch technique with light-cured resin cement. High-resolution intra-oral and extra-oral photographs documented the case, capturing the preoperative, preparation, and final restoration stages. These images highlight shade matching, margin adaptation, and smile transformation after veneering. <i>Results</i>: Postoperative evaluation showed excellent aesthetic outcomes, color integration, and marginal adaptation, with the patient expressing high satisfaction. The veneers exhibited optimal translucency and strength, ensuring long-term durability. A one-year follow-up revealed no debonding, marginal discoloration, or surface degradation, confirming the clinical reliability of lithium disilicate veneers. <i>Conclusions</i>: Lithium disilicate provides predictability, durability, and high aesthetic results, making it an ideal choice for minimally invasive smile enhancement. The use of photographic documentation emphasizes the importance of case planning, precise preparation, and adhesive bonding for successful outcomes. Future research should focus on long-term survival rates and complication prevention to further refine material selection and bonding protocols.
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spelling doaj-art-7afd4f335cba45f9ad71f823e72b21382025-08-20T02:11:12ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832025-03-011536610.3390/clinpract15030066Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case StudyJose Villalobos-Tinoco0Franciele Floriani1Silvia Rojas-Rueda2Salwa Mekled3Clint Conner4Staley Colvert5Carlos A. Jurado6Postgraduate Program in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, National University of Rosario School of Dentistry, Rosario 3160, ArgentinaDepartment of Prosthodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADivision of Dental Biomaterials, The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, Birmingham, AL 35233, USADepartment of Restorative Dentistry, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USADivision of Operative Dentistry, Department of General Dentistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, Memphis, TN 38104, USADepartment of General Dentistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, Memphis, TN 38104, USADivision of Operative Dentistry, Department of General Dentistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, Memphis, TN 38104, USA<i>Background</i>: Lithium disilicate ceramic veneers are considered the gold standard in aesthetic dentistry due to their translucency, strength, and adhesive bonding properties. This clinical case report details the aesthetic rehabilitation of a patient through the use of pressed lithium disilicate veneers, highlighting the treatment workflow, material selection rationale, and the long-term functional and aesthetic outcomes achieved. <i>Methods</i>: A review was conducted to evaluate the long-term success of lithium disilicate. A case study is presented that involves a 32-year-old female patient with anterior tooth discoloration, minor morphological discrepancies, and a desire for smile enhancement. A conservative approach using pressed lithium disilicate was chosen to restore harmony and enhance natural aesthetics. The treatment involved minimally invasive tooth preparation, digital smile design, and adhesive cementation using a total-etch technique with light-cured resin cement. High-resolution intra-oral and extra-oral photographs documented the case, capturing the preoperative, preparation, and final restoration stages. These images highlight shade matching, margin adaptation, and smile transformation after veneering. <i>Results</i>: Postoperative evaluation showed excellent aesthetic outcomes, color integration, and marginal adaptation, with the patient expressing high satisfaction. The veneers exhibited optimal translucency and strength, ensuring long-term durability. A one-year follow-up revealed no debonding, marginal discoloration, or surface degradation, confirming the clinical reliability of lithium disilicate veneers. <i>Conclusions</i>: Lithium disilicate provides predictability, durability, and high aesthetic results, making it an ideal choice for minimally invasive smile enhancement. The use of photographic documentation emphasizes the importance of case planning, precise preparation, and adhesive bonding for successful outcomes. Future research should focus on long-term survival rates and complication prevention to further refine material selection and bonding protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/3/66lithium disilicateveneersaesthetic dentistrysmile
spellingShingle Jose Villalobos-Tinoco
Franciele Floriani
Silvia Rojas-Rueda
Salwa Mekled
Clint Conner
Staley Colvert
Carlos A. Jurado
Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
Clinics and Practice
lithium disilicate
veneers
aesthetic dentistry
smile
title Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
title_full Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
title_fullStr Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
title_short Enhancing Smile Aesthetics and Function with Lithium Disilicate Veneers: A Brief Review and Case Study
title_sort enhancing smile aesthetics and function with lithium disilicate veneers a brief review and case study
topic lithium disilicate
veneers
aesthetic dentistry
smile
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/3/66
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