Minimally Invasive Direct Restoration of Worn Teeth: A Simplified Technique

The prevalence of tooth wear is increasing¹ and, as a result, dental professionals are repeatedly faced with demanding diagnostic, planning and restorative challenges. When first line preventive and non-operative strategies have reached their limits, the clinical decision to intervene operatively must be taken carefully, as patients will enter a restorative cycle of restoration repair/replacement that may ultimately increase the risk of tooth loss.¹ It is widely recognized that dental restorations do not last very long,² and that the likelihood of failure is greater in patients with parafunction. Patients must be informed of the need for monitoring, maintenance requirements and that the possibility of occasional restoration replacements will incur further biological and financial costs. Since intervention will initiate the ‘restorative cycle’, it is imperative that initial operative techniques preserve as much tooth structure as possible. With improvements in adhesives and advancements in the physical and aesthetic properties of composite resins, these materials are increasingly considered to be optimal for the rehabilitation of the worn dentition.^{1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16}