Over the past two decades, thanks to the proven efficacy of adhesive systems and the evolution of materials, restorative dentistry has progressively expanded its areas of expertise, now offering practitioners a wide range of therapeutic solutions, from minimal restorations to indirect restorations. This process has also involved prosthetics, which has had to revise traditional clinical protocols in light of modern adhesive restorative procedures. Among the various direct and indirect treatment options, the most appropriate restorative strategy must adhere to the principle of minimal invasiveness. Preserving the greatest possible amount of residual healthy dental tissue is, in fact, the most important factor in the long-term success of the tooth-restoration complex. From this perspective, direct techniques would always appear to be the ideal choice, given the minimal cavity preparation required. Some clinical situations, however, require the use of indirect solutions. An unfavorable prognostic cavity diagnosis, as well as significant functional or aesthetic needs, can limit the indications for a direct approach, or even make it contraindicated. In these cases, the operator's focus must be on choosing the least invasive indirect solution. This is achieved through a proper treatment plan that considers substrate preparation, cementation technique, preparation design, and choice of material for the indirect restoration as key aspects of clinical implementation of a functional and aesthetic plan.
The aim of this course is to guide participants through the key steps for successful indirect restorations, starting with diagnosis and moving on to the principles of cavity preparation, adhesive cementation, and the finalization of aesthetic-adhesive indirect restorations.
The course, designed for a limited number of participants, consists of four two-day sessions. The first session is designed to familiarize participants with the fundamental concepts of modern restorative dentistry. Along with the guiding principles of maximizing tooth tissue conservation and treatment reversibility, the biological basis, current state of the art, and future prospects for adhesive restorations will be discussed. Since this course focuses on indirect restorative dentistry, particular emphasis will be placed on cavity diagnosis (assessment of residual tooth structure), analysis of various restoration strategies, and preparation design. The second and third sessions, entirely practical, are dedicated to preparation techniques for indirect adhesive restorations of teeth.
Specifically, participants will learn the technique of guided preparation with silicone aligners, which is essential for predictably managing prosthetic cases, whether using reconstructive or reorganizational treatment approaches. Given the course's conservative philosophy, the focus will be on partial preparations (onlays, overlays, and veneers), especially considering the current limited indications for full crown restorations. Students will perform preparations for indirect restorations in both the anterior and posterior regions using a simulator.
The fourth session, also practical, will focus on adhesive cementation. Each participant will personally perform the adhesive cementation procedure for indirect restorations (created in collaboration with their dental technician) on anterior and posterior teeth selected from those prepared during the second and third sessions. The course will discuss the basic principles of occlusal restoration grammar, i.e., the parameters to follow for constructing gnathologically guided indirect restorations. Aesthetic adhesive pre-prosthetic restorations with and without the use of fiber posts will also be discussed.
