Title : Ceramic overlay to restore a heavily compromised tooth: A case report
Abstract:
Introduction: Restoring damaged or non-vital teeth can be complex, making direct restorations particularly challenging. As an alternative, indirect ceramic restorations, such as onlays and overlays, have gained significant popularity due to their ability to meet patient’s' growing aesthetic demands and their minimally invasive nature.
Case Description: A 47-year-old female patient was referred to the department of fixed prosthodontics at the Faculty of dental medicine of Monastir. After clinical examination, The patient presented with a coronal fracture of the left maxillary second molar. The fracture level was juxta-gingival with remaining buccal cusps. The tooth had undergone endodontic treatment more than five years ago. The chosen solution was a ceramic overlay to preserve the remaining dental structures.. A reinforced lithium silicate ceramic was selected for the restoration.
Discussion: Although full-coverage crowns remain the gold standard for restoring endodontically treated teeth, they
necessitate substantial removal of healthy dental tissue. Alternatively, onlays, and particularly overlay restorations, provide a more conservative approach, allowing the preservation of sound tooth structure. Adhesive overlays not only protect coronal structure and maintain the integrity of root canal treatment but also reinforce the remaining dental tissues while achieving optimal aesthetics, form, and function.
Conclusion/Clinical Significance: Current evidence supports indirect ceramic restorations bonded with adhesive resin cement as a reliable solution for rehabilitating teeth weakened by extensive structural loss. However, careful case selection and appropriate material choice are crucial for achieving predictable and long-lasting clinical outcomes with overlays.
