Looking at the Restorative Success Through the Lens of Proven Principles

When we combine the narratives "art and science", one must think of the skill set necessary to fabricate predictable and long lasting indirect restorations. Successfully treating our patients with fixed prosthodontics mandates we have a comprehensive understanding of not only materials, but also a mastery of mechanical concepts and a healthy respect for the remaining tooth structure.

There is no other field in dentistry where real improvement in outcomes can be directly attributed to attention to detail and execution. Just as important as technical improvement, is developing an awareness of the interactions of all the choices we make; from preparation design, margin configuration, as well as our luting agent selection.

This demands the exchange of ideas and information between the dentist and the dental laboratory. Unfortunately there is not much contact between dentists and laboratory technicians because of the increased size of dental laboratories, technical developments, and our preoccupation with restorative techniques instead of laboratory procedures. We cannot improve our outcomes if errors are made by us or in the laboratory, making group cooperation and communication mandatory. This presentation will take an honest and critical look at the issues that face both the dentist and our labs.

At the end of the day, we cannot afford clinically unacceptable outcomes in our treatment. Costs lost to time, remakes, and loss of patient confidence are not something we strive for. By understanding the interdependence of the process, you will be able to identify the cause of failures so you can prevent them occurring.