Resin composite palatal veneers for anterior teeth: A systematized review of clinical performance.

Abstract

Purpose: Dental wear of anterior teeth may compromise aesthetics, function, and occlusal stability. Resin composite palatal veneers have been proposed as a minimally invasive and repairable option for restoring worn palatal surfaces. This systematized review evaluated their clinical performance by distinguishing restoration survival from clinical success.

Study selection: Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO (August-October 2024). Clinical trials, observational studies, and case series evaluating direct or indirect resin composite palatal veneers, used alone or as part of a rehabilitation approach, were included. Studies assessing exclusively non-composite materials were excluded. Data on study design, sample characteristics, follow-up duration, and outcomes were qualitatively synthesized due to methodological heterogeneity.

Results: Seven studies with 1,532 restorations in 306 patients included one randomized clinical trial, one prospective non-controlled study, two observational studies, and three case series, with follow-up from 5 months to 8 years. Survival rates ranged from 93.8% to 100%, and failure rates ranged from 0.5% to 1.8%. Outcomes included technical issues such as wear, discoloration, marginal defects, and biological issues such as gingival inflammation. Most complications were minor and repairable; catastrophic failures were rare.

Conclusions: Resin composite palatal veneers show favorable medium-term survival. However, survival should not be equated with clinical success, as technical and biological complications may occur without restoration loss. Given the limited long-term and standardized evidence, further prospective studies are required.

Clinical relevance: Resin composite palatal veneers offer a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy via a conservative and repairable approach for restoring worn palatal surfaces.