Victor Le

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab on the model and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 11 April 2025; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Photo above: the bridge from 11 to 13 on the model with a soft-tissue mask, labial surfaces layered with a gradient from a warm cervical area to a translucent incisal edge.

What the dentist asked for

The patient was missing tooth 12, with teeth 11 and 13 suitable as abutments. The dentist chose a three-unit fixed bridge rather than an implant. For a bridge in the anterior segment the brief was clear: the pontic at 12 had to look like a tooth emerging from the gingiva, the two abutment teeth had to match the translucency of the natural teeth on the opposite side, and the whole bridge had to be shade A2 with a visible gradient from cervical to body to incisal.

Why ZirCAD Prime, cut back and layered

A three-unit anterior bridge needs a framework strong enough at the connectors. Multilayer ZirCAD Prime combines a load-bearing 3Y-TZP cervical zone with a more translucent 5Y-PSZ incisal zone in one disc, which suits short anterior bridges. Monolithic zirconia, even when stained, still struggles to reach the translucency and depth of a natural incisor. The lab therefore designed the bridge as a labial cut-back: the zirconia framework keeps the full palatal surface, the connectors and the occlusal contacts, while the incisal third and the labial surface are layered by hand. This retains framework strength and adds the layered porcelain needed for natural effects. Our ceramic materials comparison explains when monolithic is enough and when layering is worth it.

Lateral view: the pontic at 12 rests on the tissue with a natural outline, and the labial contour runs continuously from 11 to 13.

Lab workflow

1. Digital design. The bridge was first designed at full contour to check form, occlusion and connector cross-sections, then cut back uniformly on the labial surface to make room for porcelain without thinning the connectors.
2. Milling and sintering. The framework was milled from a ZirCAD Prime disc, nested so that the cervical zone sat in the opaque layer and the incisal zone in the more translucent layer.
3. Labial layering. Warm dentin at the cervical area, enamel and translucent porcelain at the incisal edge, vertical enamel striations, several firings and checks under different light sources.
4. Checks. Try-in on the model with the soft-tissue mask to assess the pontic emergence, occlusion checked in intercuspation and excursions, then polishing.

Result

The photos on the model show three units with the same incisal translucency, a smooth gradient from cervical to body, a pontic at 12 resting on the tissue with a slightly convex tissue surface, and uniform enamel texture. From the lateral view the labial contour continues from 11 to 13, so the pontic cannot be picked out.

Lessons for similar cases

• Prescribe “cut-back and layered” on the form for any anterior bridge, so the lab designs the framework at the right thickness from the start instead of grinding it back after milling.
• Send a photo of the ridge at the missing tooth. Pontic shape depends on the ridge; the photo lets the lab choose between an ovate and a modified ridge-lap design.
• Reduce the labial surface of the abutment teeth sufficiently (at least 1.2 to 1.5 mm for framework plus porcelain) so the abutments do not end up thicker than the natural teeth.

Read more on disc selection in 3Y-TZP vs 5Y-PSZ zirconia, or send a case via WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab on the model and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 18 August 2026; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Photo above: Left: the finished result from the lateral view. Right, top to bottom: pressed and cut-back frameworks; effect porcelain built up at the incisal edge; line angles and reflective zones marked before final contouring.

What the dentist asked for

The dentist sent reference photos and a specific description of the desired form: slightly square central incisors, clearly visible incisal translucency, and a micro-texture that shows under oblique light without looking rough. Target shade A1. With a brief this detailed, the decisive step was not the pressing but the hand finishing after it.

Why LiSi Press

GC Initial LiSi Press is a pressed lithium disilicate with fine, evenly distributed crystals, giving stable translucency at thin sections and a smooth polished surface. It suits anterior veneers that need enough strength together with depth of colour. Compared with the other pressed systems in the same family (see e.max Press vs LiSi Press vs Vintage LD), LiSi Press lets the ceramist cut back and layer with the manufacturer’s matching porcelain, so thermal expansion is compatible and the risk of cracking in the layered zone is low.

The three finishing steps

1. Mapping the surface texture. After pressing and cutting back the incisal zone, the ceramist drew the areas that would carry vertical striations, horizontal ridges and flat reflective planes onto the framework. The map followed the dentist’s reference photos, not a generic template.
2. Custom porcelain build-up. Translucent and effect porcelains were applied at the incisal edge according to the map: mamelons of different lengths on the two central incisors, a faint blue-grey translucent band between them, a thin halo. Fired and checked under oblique light.
3. Defining the line angles. Mesial and distal line angles were pencilled in and the surfaces contoured so that the reflective zone between them had the width that gives the “slightly square” form requested, followed by mechanical polishing that preserves the micro-texture.

These three steps are why the lab’s pressed veneers take longer than monolithic pressed crowns finished with stain only. Typical in-lab time for layered pressed veneers is 3 to 5 working days.

Result

The lateral view shows a continuous surface curvature from the central incisor to the canine, incisal translucency increasing towards the distal corner, and vertical striations that are visible yet evenly glossy. The form matches the reference photos and shade A1 keeps its depth because it comes from the layered porcelain rather than from surface stain alone.

Lessons for similar cases

• A reference photo of the desired form is worth more than a verbal description. A photo of natural teeth or of a case the dentist likes lets the lab map the surface correctly from the start.
• State the degree of texture: “light”, “medium” or “pronounced”. Younger patients usually need more texture, older patients flatter and glossier surfaces.
• Ask for photos before shipping. For layered veneers, a photo under oblique light lets you comment on texture before the case leaves the lab.

Ready to send a pressed veneer case? See the ordering process or message WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. The before-and-after photos were sent to the lab by the dentist as feedback and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 23 July 2026; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Photo above: Before: opaque, discoloured old crowns with dark gingival margins and mottled adjacent teeth. After: a uniform anterior arch with translucency retained at the incisal edges.

Initial situation

The pre-treatment photo shows the upper incisors carrying old crowns that were highly opaque, yellow compared with the natural teeth, flat in form and with dark gingival margins. The adjacent teeth had multiple white and brown enamel spots of the kind typically seen in fluorosis. The dentist decided to replace the old crowns and restore the neighbouring teeth to create one uniform anterior arch.

The problem for the lab was the substrate. Teeth previously prepared for crowns had different stump shades, some darker after endodontic treatment or metal posts, while the teeth prepared only for veneers had bright but mottled enamel. Using the same opacity for every unit would have produced either a uniformly opaque result that looked artificial, or a uniformly translucent one that showed the differing substrates.

Why a zirconia and veneer combination

For teeth with heavy tissue loss and dark substrates, multilayer zirconia crowns give the best masking of any ceramic family while still offering enough translucency in the incisal third when the right disc is chosen. For teeth with plenty of enamel and only superficial discolouration, thin porcelain veneers are the more conservative option. Our ceramic materials comparison summarises masking ability and translucency by family.

The deciding factor was the colour distance between each stump and the target shade of each tooth. The lab set the opacity of the core individually per unit, then used one porcelain system for the outer layer so the whole arch shared the same translucency and surface texture.

Lab workflow

1. Stump shade assessment from the dentist’s photos taken with a stump shade guide in frame.
2. Digital design of the whole anterior group at once to unify incisal edge length, smile line and the labial position of crowns relative to veneers.
3. Opacity per unit: multilayer zirconia for the teeth with dark substrates; a thin masking layer under the veneers on teeth with darker spots.
4. Shared outer layer on crowns and veneers, building incisal translucency and consistent enamel striations across the arch.
5. Checks under several light sources so the units do not separate visually when the lighting changes, especially with light transmitted through the incisal edges.

Result

The post-seating photo sent by the dentist shows a uniform anterior arch from canine to canine, an even pink gingival margin, retained incisal translucency and subtle enamel striations. The enamel spots no longer show through the restorations. In the full view, zirconia crowns and veneers cannot be distinguished.

Lessons for similar cases

• Always send stump shade photos when any tooth has been root-treated or carries a post. Without them the lab has to guess the opacity and the remake risk is high.
• Prescribe the whole group on one form rather than sending crowns and veneers separately, so the lab designs and layers them together.
• Allow an extra 0.1 to 0.2 mm of labial reduction on very dark substrates so the lab has room for a masking layer without over-contouring.

Read more on choosing zirconia discs in 3Y-TZP vs 5Y-PSZ zirconia, or message WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab on the model and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 17 June 2026; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Photo above: Incisal halo on an OM1 central incisor: a thin, brighter opaque band framing the translucent incisal zone.

What the dentist asked for

The patient had bleached and wanted the anterior segment restored in shade OM1. One tooth needed a full crown because of extensive tissue loss; the others needed veneers only. The dentist required both types of restoration to share the same translucency, surface structure and character, even though they would be made from two different materials.

The difficulty with OM1 is that its high value makes restorations look flat and opaque. Natural bright teeth still show stratification: a slightly warmer cervical area, vertical striations on the body, a translucent incisal edge framed by a thin bright band, the halo. Without these details a white smile reads as plastic.

Why e.max Press with feldspathic

The full crown needs strength to carry load and mask the preparation, so pressed lithium disilicate with a flexural strength around 400 to 500 MPa and enough translucency for anterior work was chosen (see the materials comparison). Veneers on teeth with plenty of remaining enamel suit hand-layered feldspathic, which gives the finest control over effects. To make the two materials match, the e.max crown was pressed from an ingot of suitable translucency, then cut back in the incisal third and layered with the same porcelain used for the veneers. The outermost layer of crown and veneers is therefore one ceramic system fired on the same schedule, so light behaves the same way on every unit.

Lab workflow

1. Ingot and opacity selection. For OM1, an ingot opaque enough to mask the preparation without killing incisal translucency.
2. Press and cut-back. The crown was pressed to full contour, then reduced in the incisal third to create room for effect porcelain.
3. Effects on crown and veneers together. Translucent porcelain at the edge, a halo built with higher-opacity enamel around the incisal outline, fine vertical striations with effect porcelain, then firing and checks under several light sources.
4. Surface and gloss. A consistent micro-texture across the whole arch and mechanical polishing instead of a thick glaze, to avoid a mirror-like surface.

Result

The close-up on the model shows a distinct halo at the incisal edge of the central incisor, translucency below it and vertical enamel striations running the length of the crown. At normal viewing distance the pressed crown and the layered veneers cannot be told apart. That was the success criterion for the case: a bright arch that still has depth.

Lessons for similar cases

• When combining crowns and veneers in one arch, ask the lab to use one ceramic system for the outer layer. Prescribing different core materials per tooth is normal; the surface layer must be uniform.
• Bleach shades still need effects. Write it on the prescription: “halo, striations, translucent edge”. Otherwise the lab may read the request as a uniform shade.
• Photograph OM1 and OM2 tabs next to the bleached natural teeth so the lab sees the target value under the same lighting.

Need help choosing materials for an anterior case? Message WhatsApp +84 902 945 585 or read our comparison of pressed lithium disilicate systems.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 8 July 2026; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Photo above: Top: the two feldspathic veneers on holding sticks before seating. Bottom: intraoral result with natural morphology after diastema closure.

What the dentist asked for

The patient presented with a midline diastema between the upper central incisors. The remaining dentition was healthy, bright in shade and rich in natural detail. The dentist prescribed two thin veneers to close the gap with one clear requirement: the result had to blend with the adjacent natural teeth rather than look uniformly white. In this situation translucency and surface structure matter more than strength, because occlusal load on the central incisors is low and the bonding area on enamel is generous.

Why feldspathic porcelain

With two units sitting next to natural teeth, the ceramist needs control over every colour layer: dentin at the cervical third, translucency at the incisal edge, enamel striations and small opaque spots. Hand-layered feldspathic porcelain allows these details to be adjusted brushstroke by brushstroke, which pressed or milled monolithic blanks cannot do. The trade-off is that feldspathic has the lowest flexural strength of the ceramic families (see our comparison of dental ceramics), so the indication is right when most of the bonding surface is enamel and there is no premature contact on the incisal edge.

For diastema closure the veneers must extend mesially to fill the space without making the teeth look oversized. The solution was to distribute the extra width across both central incisors, keep the width-to-length ratio close to the natural teeth, and bring the contact point apically just far enough for the papilla to fill the embrasure.

Lab workflow

1. Model and photo analysis. The ceramist measured the diastema, set the new width of each incisor and the position of the contact point. Photos of the adjacent teeth under neutral light guided the base shade and the effects map.
2. Layering on refractory dies. A thin dentin layer at the cervical and body, enamel and translucent porcelain in the incisal third. Several firings, each adding one group of effects: vertical enamel striations, incisal halo, subtle opaque spots.
3. Form finishing. Line angles and reflective surfaces were positioned so that the two incisors read as symmetrical without being identical, as natural teeth are.
4. Quality check. Try-in on the model, marginal fit, proximal contacts and minimum thickness at the edge. The case was photographed before shipping for the dentist’s reference.

Typical in-lab time for this type of case at Khai Nguyen is 3 to 5 working days because most steps are done by hand. See the ordering process for how to send scans and photos.

Result

The post-seating photo shows the diastema closed, with both central incisors showing natural morphology and a surface curvature continuous with the neighbouring teeth. The transition between veneer and tooth is not visible at conversational distance. Shade integration comes from preserving incisal translucency rather than brightening the whole restoration.

Lessons for similar cases

• Send photos of the adjacent teeth and a shade photo with the tab in frame. For feldspathic veneers the lab reproduces detail from photographs, not only from a shade code.
• Agree on the new tooth proportions in advance. Say whether the space should be shared between both incisors or assigned to one, and whether a longer contact is acceptable.
• Check protrusive guidance. Thin feldspathic veneers chip at the edge if there is a premature contact in protrusion. Adjust before final cementation.

Have a similar case? Send the scan or model with photos via WhatsApp +84 902 945 585, or read how to evaluate a dental lab before sending esthetic work.

Choosing between the two materials? See feldspathic or e.max veneers: how to choose.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.