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Class IV (Esthetic Composite Removal)
By Timothy Anderson, DDS on May 14, 2022
Case Summary:
A 24-year-old female patient presented to the practice with a desire to improve the appearance of her smile prior to her upcoming wedding. She had an existing Class IV restoration on tooth #8 that did not meet her esthetic desires.
The clinical objective was to obtain an esthetic restoration utilizing a minimally invasive approach and no anesthetic. Thus, the existing composite was removed using Solea, and the new Class IV composite was placed.
Technique Used:
The entire procedure was performed using Solea with a Contra-angle handpiece. The dentist began the treatment by removing the existing composite restoration utilizing the 1.25 spot size with 100% mist and cutting speed between 20-40%. Once the composite was removed, the cutting speed was increased to 40-60% to bevel cavosurface margins
of the tooth and increase bonding surface area. The procedure was completed anesthesia-free utilizing an optragate isolation. The tooth was restored with composite. The total procedure time, from start to finish, was 10 min.
Results:
With a traditional approach, this procedure is typically completed with an injectable anesthetic and unnecessary removal of tooth structure. Solea made it very fast and noninvasive. The dentist saved time by not stopping to
administer the anesthetic and not waiting for it to take effect. This enables him to see more patients per day or perform multiple procedures during one appointment, which makes his practice more efficient. The patient was thrilled not only with the esthetic outcome, but with the speed and lack of numbness to complete the procedure. She was also happy that there was no need to have her “tooth cut down” to place a crown, veneer or new filling.
Solea Advantage:
- No anesthesia was used.
- Solea’s precision enabled complete control of the tissue and made this procedure minimally invasive.
- The procedure time was reduced to 10 min compared to 30 with traditional techniques.
- The final restoration and process exceeded the patient’s expectations.