Anterior fixed prosthetic restorations and the bleached dentition: laboratory techniques.

The process of matching fixed prosthetic restorations to bleached dentition has often created a dilemma, as clinicians are not able to accurately communicate shade selection to the dental laboratory. By understanding the effect of vital bleaching on the dentition, it is possible to fabricate porcelain restorations that match the bleached natural teeth. This article presents a laboratory technique for utilizing a sequence of porcelain powders and stains to develop the internal anatomy (e.g., halos, mamelons, luminosity) of restorations that appear indistinguishable from the bleached dentition.