Technique: Placing multiple veneers at the same time with amazing esthetics

For many years, I have been using multiple placement techniques in placing porcelain veneers. I first saw it illustrated by the late Dr. Robert Ibsen in the early 1980s. I watched Dr. Larry Rosenthal demonstrate multiple veneer placement on patients during our Ultimate Esthetic Practice continuum in New York City in the early 1990s.

While placing veneers one or two at a time can be effective, I find that it takes me longer and involves more adjustment. It is possible to place up to 10 veneers at once. For veneers on the ten teeth from second premolar to second premolar, I usually place six, two and two simply because of the field of view.    

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The process

The placement process involves enamel etching, placement of a bonding agent, treating the internal etched surfaces of the veneer with a silane primer, placement of luting composite on the internal surfaces of the veneer, delivering the veneer to the tooth with cotton pliers or other instrument, lightly pressing the veneer to place with an instrument or finger, adding the other veneers one by one, removing excess resin with a brush where needed, tack curing, removing proximal and marginal excess where possible, final curing, removal of excess luting resin with carbide finishing burs and polishing.

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Fig. 1 Laminate veneers photographed on a mirror surface

A new technique for me

Recently, I watched a YouTube video where Dr. Michael Apa of New York City illustrated a multiple placement technique using a flowable composite as the luting agent and placing it directly on the teeth instead of inside the veneer. When I tried the technique, I found it to be more efficient than the technique I outlined above. The fact that the veneer can be carried to the mouth dry reduces the possibility of mishandling or dropping.

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Not all composite resin cements are suited for this technique. Some are too viscous and some have too short a working time in ambient light. I found Calibra, by Dentsply Sirona, an ideal material for this process. Its viscosity is flowable in nature and it possesses a “stay-put” property that allows the restoration to stay in place for clean up before curing. Figure 1 shows ten ceramic laminate veneers ready for placement and photographed on a mirror surface.

Fig. 2 The prepared teeth, facial view

The six prepared maxillary anterior teeth are shown from the facial view in Figure 2. All eight laminates were tried in using try-in paste (Calibra, Dentsply Sirona) and they were approved by the patient. The try-in paste was thoroughly rinsed out and a silane primer (Dentsply Sirona) was applied to the etched internal surfaces of the laminates.

Fig. 3 Etching gel placed with syringe

It was decided to place the six anterior veneers at once and then the two premolar veneers together one side at a time. Metal inter-proximal matrixes were placed distal to both canine teeth to protect the adjacent premolars from the adhesive chemicals. A line of phosphoric acid etching gel (Dentsply Sirona) was placed on the prepared surfaces using a syringe (Fig. 3) and quickly brushed across the surfaces allowing it to dwell for ten seconds before thoroughly rinsing with water from an air/water syringe and lightly air drying.

Fig. 4 Bonding agent applied

At this point, a bonding agent (Prime & Bond NT, Dentsply Sirona) was liberally applied to the prepared and etched surfaces (Fig. 4) and blown thin with air from an air/water syringe.

Fig. 5 Bonding agent light cured

The bonding agent was light cured with a LED curing light (SmartLite Focus, Dentsply Sirona) for ten seconds per tooth (Fig. 5).

Fig. 6 Calibra luting composite syringed onto tooth surfaces

Calibra light cured luting composite was delivered to the prepared tooth surfaces with its syringe tip (Fig. 6).

Fig. 7 First laminate placed

The right central incisor laminate was placed on the tooth surface (Fig. 7). Each additional laminate was placed (Figs 8 & 9).

An instrument was used to lightly press each veneer to place (Fig. 10). A brush was used to remove excess luting composite at the marginal areas (Fig. 11).

Fig. 12 Instrument used to verify seating

The metal matrix strips were removed from the inter-proximal areas distal the canines. The instrument was again used to verify the seat of each laminate veneer (Fig. 12). The “stay put” property of Calibra aids in the positioning.

Fig. 13 "Tack" cure for two seconds

The LED curing light was used to “tack” the laminates to place with a quick two second burst of light (Fig. 13). Floss was used to remove excess proximal composite at this stage. A number 12 surgical blade was used to aid in removing inter-proximal excess.

Fig. 14 Finish light cure

Final light curing for 10 seconds on facial and lingual surfaces of each laminate finished the cure (Fig. 14).  The premolar veneers were applied in the same fashion.

Fig. 15 Enhance cup polishes margins

A small carbide finishing bur was used to remove excess cured luting composite at the margins. An Enhance Cup (Dentsply Sirona) was then used to polish all margins (Fig. 15).

Fig. 16 Final result, incisal view

Figure 16 shows the incisal view of the six anterior laminate veneers in place. The facial view of the finished case can be seen in Figure 17, below.

Conclusion:

With this technique, I found that my delivery time and clean up was less than for my previous process. I found the Calibra kit with try-in pastes, multiple colors of luting composite, silane primer and phosphoric etching gel a complete system for placing laminate veneers. The viscosity allows for the above technique with direct placement on the prepared teeth. The material has a “stay put” property that assists in multiple placement. 

Restorations provided by daVInci Dental Studios

Fig. 17 Facial view of final result