Clinical requirements and practices for occlusal veneers

Abstract

Occlusal veneers have recently attracted attention as a new design of posterior restoration. This prosthetic approach is designed to restore and maintain long-term tooth substance loss and occlusal relationships by adhesively bonding a high-strength restorative material to an abutment tooth in which the occlusal surface has been minimally reduced. Occlusal veneers are indicated for cases with substantial occlusal tooth structure loss, teeth damaged by tooth wear, and cases requiring improvement of the occlusal relationship, and favorable clinical outcomes have been reported. The clinical requirements for this type of posterior veneer restoration include factors related to the restoration, adhesion, and abutment tooth preparation. In addition, the intraoral process of exploring and determining the final morphology of the restoration, in relation to these factors, is also considered important. This article discusses the clinical requirements and key considerations that are considered important when applying occlusal veneers in clinical practice.