Method for cosmetic restoration of anterior teeth

Claim 1

A method of fabricating a custom-made porcelain labial veneer for a tooth which comprises: preparing, from an impression of the patient's teeth, a die having a portion of identical configuration as such tooth and using a round burr to undercut the die at the cervical extension and to expose the marginal areas of the labial, gingival and interproximal regions to be veneered; placing a metal foil over the labial surface of said die such that a tab portion of said foil extends below the gingival margin thereon and tightly folding said foil over the incisal edge and at least partially around the proximal surfaces of said die so as to form a snugly fitting, but hingedly removable at the top, foil sheath on said die; burnishing said foil sheath; applying porcelain powder to the labial surface of said foil-sheathed die to build a thin veneer conforming to the shape of the bonding surface of such tooth; removing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto from said die by gently pulling said tab portion away from the labial face of said die and lifting said tab portion so as to cause said foil sheath to hinge about the incisal portion and lift off of such die; firing the porcelain veneer on said foil sheath; replacing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto onto said die and finishing the marginal areas of said veneer; removing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto from said die again and staining and glazing the veneer to achieve the desired cosmetic restoration appearance; separating said foil sheath from said porcelain veneer to provide a custom-made porcelain labial veneer.

Claim 2

A method of fabricating a custom-made porcelain labial veneer for a tooth which comprises: preparing, from an impression of the patient's teeth, a die having a portion of identical configuration as such tooth and using a round burr to undercut the die at the cervical extension and to expose the marginal areas of the labial, gingival and interproximal regions to be veneered; placing a metal foil over the labial surface of said die such that a tab portion of said foil extends below the gingival margin thereon and tightly folding said foil over the incisal edge and at least partially around the proximal surfaces of said die so as to form a snugly fitting, but hingedly removable at the top, foil sheath on said die; burnishing said foil sheath; applying porcelain powder to the labial surface of said foil-sheathed die to build a thin veneer conforming to the shape of the bonding surface of such tooth; removing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto from said die by gently pulling said tab portion away from the labial face of said die and lifting said tab portion so as to cause said foil sheath to hinge about the incisal portion and lift off of such die; firing the porcelain veneer on said foil sheath; replacing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto onto said die and finishing the marginal areas of said veneer; removing the foil sheath and porcelain veneer affixed thereto from said die again and staining and glazing the veneer to achieve the desired cosmetic restoration appearance; separating said foil sheath from said porcelain veneer to provide a custom-made porcelain labial veneer.

Claim 7

A method of placing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer on a patient's cosmetically defective tooth which comprises: providing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer; etching appropriate portions of the labial, proximal and incisal enamel surfaces of such tooth with an acid solution to create micropores therein; applying a thin layer of bonding agent to both the etched enamel bonding surface of the tooth and the posterior concave bonding surface of said veneer, and light curing said bonding agent; applying dental filler material to said posterior concave bonding surface, placing said veneer accurately onto such tooth, trimming away excess filler material and light curing said dental filler material; and finishing the proximal and incisal margins to provide a smooth tooth restoration surface.

Claim 8

A method of placing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer on a patient's cosmetically defective tooth which comprises: providing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer; etching appropriate portions of the labial, proximal and incisal enamel surfaces of such tooth with an acid solution to create micropores therein; applying a thin layer of bonding agent to both the etched enamel bonding surface of the tooth and the posterior concave bonding surface of said veneer, and light curing said bonding agent; applying dental filler material to said posterior concave bonding surface, placing said veneer accurately onto such tooth, trimming away excess filler material and light curing said dental filler material; and finishing the proximal and incisal margins to provide a smooth tooth restoration surface.

Claim 9

A method of placing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer on a patient's cosmetically defective tooth which comprises: providing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer; etching appropriate portions of the labial, proximal and incisal enamel surfaces of such tooth with an acid solution to create micropores therein; applying a thin layer of bonding agent to both the etched enamel bonding surface of the tooth and the posterior concave bonding surface of said veneer, and allowing said bonding agent to cure; applying dental filler material to said posterior concave bonding surface, placing said veneer accurately onto such tooth, trimming away excess filler material and allowing said dental filler material to cure; and finishing the proximal and incisal margins to provide a smooth tooth restoration surface.

Claim 10

A method of placing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer on a patient's cosmetically defective tooth which comprises: providing a custom-made porcelain labial veneer; etching appropriate portions of the labial, proximal and incisal enamel surfaces of such tooth with an acid solution to create micropores therein; applying a thin layer of bonding agent to both the etched enamel bonding surface of the tooth and the posterior concave bonding surface of said veneer, and allowing said bonding agent to cure; applying dental filler material to said posterior concave bonding surface, placing said veneer accurately onto such tooth, trimming away excess filler material and allowing said dental filler material to cure; and finishing the proximal and incisal margins to provide a smooth tooth restoration surface.