Space Gaining for Maxillary Canines with Orthopedic Appliances: A Case Report

Introduction

The success of a restorative treatment is closely linked to the degree of surface polishing, which can prevent issues such as secondary caries, discoloration, microleakage, and fractures. The choice of finishing and polishing techniques is essential to ensure the durability and aesthetic quality of composite resin restorations.

Objective:
This study aimed to compare different finishing and polishing techniques for composite resin restorations by evaluating the resulting surface roughness.

Methods:
A 24-year-old female patient presented to the Comprehensive Dentistry Clinic at UNIBRA with complaints of darkened and unsatisfactory dental restorations. The proposed treatment included three main stages: gingival contouring, tooth whitening, and the replacement of the restorations.

Initially, gingival contouring was performed, followed by a 21-day healing period. Tooth whitening was carried out using a combined technique with 35% hydrogen peroxide in-office and 16% carbamide peroxide at home. After whitening, the restorations of teeth 11 and 21 were replaced using specific procedures, including preparation, shade selection, adhesive application, resin layering, occlusal adjustment, and finishing and polishing.

Results:
The multidisciplinary treatment significantly improved the patient's smile aesthetics. Gingival contouring achieved a harmonious gingival margin, tooth whitening delivered the desired brightness, and the new composite resin restorations provided a more natural and satisfactory appearance in terms of color and shape.

Conclusions:
The multidisciplinary approach was essential for the aesthetic harmonization of the patient’s smile, resulting in an outcome that was satisfactory for both the patient and the professionals involved. The integrated treatment contributed to the patient's well-being and underscored the importance of combined techniques to achieve high-quality aesthetic results.