Restoring a patient’s smile and giving them life-changing renewed self-confidence is one of the most rewarding things a dentist can do. Contemporary ceramic veneers are an essential restorative material in many smile design procedures, as they allow for conservative preparation and maintenance of natural tooth structure. The longevity and predictability of these restorations stem from proper preparation design. Early failure due to leakage, recurrent caries, and marginal staining is frustrating to both the dentist and the patient. In this article, we will see how managing the tooth preparation relative to the direction of the enamel rods is crucial to long-term marginal seal and veneer success.

The Importance of Enamel Rods

A successful veneer case — pre-treatment and post-treatment.
Figure 1: A successful veneer case — pre-treatment and post-treatment.

In Spear’s Restorative Design workshop, we cover the topic of ceramic veneer preparation design in detail. We do a number of hands-on exercises where participants prepare various partial coverage designs to maintain tooth structure and create outcomes that will satisfy both shade change and esthetic and functional needs. By far, the most challenging aspect related to anterior veneer preparation is interproximal margin placement. In the attempt to remain conservative and yet provide hidden margins and dental hygiene access, many participants struggle with adequate margin extension. Unsupported enamel rods are a common frustration thread in these workshop exercises. So, let’s look at “visual” insights into creating adequate veneer margin extension and direction to reduce early restoration failure.

Enamel, as we know, covers the surface of natural teeth. The direction of enamel rods is perpendicular to the outer aspect of the tooth surface. Adhesion is strongest to the ends of the enamel rods (in fact, the literature supports that 50% of adhesive strength is lost when bonding is to the sides of the enamel rod). Acid etching enamel rod ends removes hydroxyapatite crystals and exposes a roughened enamel surface into which resin adhesive may penetrate. These micro-tags are the fundamental mechanism of resin-enamel adhesion. If enamel rod ends are not exposed properly during tooth preparation, not only will poor adhesion result, but fracture of the unsupported enamel rods will jeopardize restoration longevity.

Enamel rods of anterior teeth.
Figure 2: Enamel rods of anterior teeth.

If teeth are ideally aligned, the contact point of adjacent teeth is directly superior to the tip of the interproximal gingival papilla. The diagram below provides a visual image of how this relationship should appear. If veneer preparations are to be integrated, the dentist must decide if the natural interproximal contact is to be maintained or re-created in the ceramic veneer. In either case, tooth preparation must not violate the direction of enamel rods to ensure restorative longevity. This diagram expressly delineates the direction of the enamel rods as 90 degrees relative to the outer aspect of the teeth.

Aligned teeth and ideal contact and papilla position.
Figure 3: Aligned teeth and ideal contact and papilla position.

This next image provides visual insights into potential marginal failure due to poor tooth preparations. Tooth “A” indicates adequate palatal extension of the veneer preparation to restore the tooth contacts in ceramic material. However, the preparation margins were not aligned adequately (parallel to the enamel rods) and will result in premature fracture of enamel rods.

Tooth “B” shows the mesial aspect of the preparation was intended to leave the natural tooth contact intact. However, the interproximal extension is prepared too far toward lingual. This results in both unsupported enamel rods and challenges for the dental laboratory in designing an adequate and sealed margin. Again, the veneer will potentially succumb to early failure. The distal margin of tooth “B” is also improperly placed. The attempt was to break the natural tooth contact and restore it in ceramic. However, the preparation margin did not extend enough to the palatal, thereby leaving unsupported enamel rods and a challenging marginal ceramic seal.

Inadequate veneer margin preparations.
Figure 4: Inadequate veneer margin preparations.

The following image shows adequate marginal extension to avoid fracture of enamel rods. Palatal margin placement allows for proper dental hygiene and adequate separation suitable for straightforward cementation protocols. Note that the preparation margins follow the direction of enamel rods.

Inadequate veneer margin preparations.
Figure 5: Adequate margin preparation extension.

A Visual Case Study

As an example of veneer margin placement, I include here a brief case study using one of my patients, Connie. This is the example I used at the beginning of this article, showing a successful veneer case.

Connie wanted to improve her appearance in a conservative manner. Without going too deep into the elements of facially generated treatment planning (Spear offers an excellent hands-on FGTP workshop that outlines complex treatment planning), it was determined that four anterior veneers would satisfy the needs and request for improved esthetics and function.

Connie's pre-treatment teeth.
Figure 6: Connie’s pre-treatment teeth.

Veneer preparations were prepared on teeth # 7-10. Interproximal contacts were to be restored in ceramic. Tooth # 10 required a more extensive palatal preparation. Providing adequate marginal extensions resulted in a pleasing and satisfactory outcome for her.

Connie's veneer preparations — margin design/extension.
Figure 7: Connie’s veneer preparations — margin design/extension.
Connie's post-treatment veneers.
Figure 8: Connie’s post-treatment veneers.

The importance of visualizing enamel rod direction and applying the protocols necessary for avoiding poor margin placement should not be underestimated or overlooked. Fractured enamel rods will not likely be noticed or observed at the time of ceramic veneer cementation. However, at the next follow-up appointment (2-3 weeks or more), staining of the ceramic margin is indicative of enamel rod fracture. This is “the beginning of the end” for the newly placed ceramic veneer. The life span (which literature supports to be 20-30 years) is now approximately one-half!

This experience is disheartening to the dentist, with the decision to remake the veneer now becoming a question. As no dentist wants to experience this situation, proper preparation technique, adequate magnification, and cementation protocols must be followed precisely.

I hope the information outlined here on enamel rods helps you create predictable restorative outcomes using ceramic veneers. And remember, if you want to go deeper into this subject, detailed veneer design, ceramic materials information, and hands-on application are included as part of the curriculum of our Restorative Design workshop. We would love to see you there!

Jeffrey Bonk, D.D.S., is a member of Spear Resident Faculty.


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