Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription, presented in our laboratory brochure. No patient-identifying information is included.
Case summary
| Indication | Full-arch vertical dimension rehabilitation after severe tooth wear |
|---|---|
| Provisionals | PMMA overlays raising the bite across all posterior teeth in both arches |
| Definitive restorations | 20 IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime crowns on the anterior teeth; GC Initial LiSi ceramic overlays on the posterior teeth |
| Workflow | 100% digital |
Situation
The patient presented with reduced vertical dimension due to severe tooth wear, resulting in:
- Broken and worn-down teeth: poor esthetics.
- Ineffective chewing: compromised function.
- Collapsed bite height: cracked mouth corners and lip soreness.
Treatment
- Bite raising with provisionals: PMMA overlays across all posterior teeth, upper and lower, to raise the vertical dimension.
- Definitive restorations: 20 ZirCAD Prime crowns on the anterior teeth and LiSi ceramic overlays on the posterior teeth.
The provisional phase gives the dentist and the patient time to confirm the new vertical dimension for function, phonetics and esthetics before moving to ceramics.
Advantages of a 100% digital workflow
- Less chairside time for impressions and ceramic fabrication.
- More comfort for the patient during impressions.
- Higher accuracy throughout the workflow.
- Full control of margin lines and contact points in ceramic fabrication.
- Significantly higher patient satisfaction.
Lessons for bite-raising cases
- Raise the bite with provisionals first, to test the new vertical dimension on the patient before ceramics.
- Choose materials by region: zirconia for the multi-unit anterior segment, pressed ceramic overlays posteriorly to preserve tooth structure.
- Send a scan of the accepted provisionals, so the lab carries the exact shape and height into the definitive work.
See also the full-mouth VDO increase with veneers, onlays, crowns and implants case, inlays, onlays and overlays, or contact Khai Nguyen.
Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.
