Minimally Invasive, Maximum Performance: A Common Sense Approach to Veneer Repair

Conservative yet complete caries removal should be the goal of every operative procedure. Over the years, there have been several different developments in the area of decay removal, from different caries detection dyes, fluorescence, and different styles of burs. When used properly, all of these assists the doctor in removing carious dentin while leaving behind healthy dentin.

The ability to reduce speed and “feel” the decay can easily be accomplished with electric handpieces. Electric handpieces have some major advantages over traditional air-driven hand pieces, namely consistent torque, no bur chattering and the ability to alter speeds especially when warranted for decay removal. Traditional air-driven slow speed handpieces can operate up to 40,000 RPMs but can’t be dialed down for decay removal. Using electric handpieces we can dial down the speed to around 20,000 RPMs allowing for better tactile sensation when removing decay.

Round carbide burs in a slow speed handpiece have been the standard for years as the ideal tool for decay removal. While carbide round burs work well, they have limitations in they get dull quickly and corrode slowly in the sterilization process. Komet has developed a line of ceramic round burs that solved all the limitations of carbide burs while giving the doctor an enhanced experience when removing decay. The ceramic burs are ultra-sharp, allowing for accurate decay removal at lower speeds. The burs also stay ultra-sharp after many uses and University-based studies found that the Komet CeraBur® stays sharper three times as long as traditional carbides. The CeraBur comes in 3 sizes 4, 6, and 8 and one shape - a round bur! The three sizes allow the practitioner to use the CeraBur in smaller cavities as well as larger cavities.

Excavating decay around a porcelain veneer can be tricky and vibrations and skipping of the bur could cause damage to the porcelain. Using the technique described in the clinical case, conservative management of the problem was achieved quickly and safely without any noticeable damage to the existing restoration. The final restoration blends with the porcelain leaving an almost unnoticeable filling at the margin of the veneer.

How to effectively remove carious dentin at the margin of an old veneer using CeraBur®:

1. Patient presented with a defective margin and slight caries on the buccal of an old veneer on tooth number 8 (Fig #1).
2.  The patient refused anesthesia and we proceeded to use a #4 CeraBur at 10,000 RPMs around the margin to remove the decay (Fig #2).
3.  Total Etch technique for 15 seconds using Ultra-Etch™ Etchant (Ultradent™) (Fig #3).
4.  After the application of MPa Max Maximum Performance Adhesive (Clinician’s Choice®), it was dried and cured. Evanesce composite shade B-1 (Clinician’s Choice®) was then applied and contoured with the Esthetic Contouring Instrument (Clinician’s Choice®) (Fig #4).
5.  After a 30 second cure with the VALO curing light (Ultradent™), the restoration was polished (Fig #5).
6.  Final restoration with composite blended into the porcelain veneer (Fig #6).