Synopsis:

In a world where dentistry is constantly inspired by advances in digital technologies, the more affordable alternative to a living human technician layering porcelain or to a five-figure dental milling machine is the increasingly popular counter-top printer. While this may cut out the middle-man and bring costs down for the provider, is there actually evidence to support the long-term use of these materials? This presentation seeks to find the answer to this question, to educate on the pros and cons of these restorations, and to evaluate how they fit into the landscape of achieving successful outcomes for patients. 

Learning Objectives:

• To identify current advances in dental materials for indirect restorations, with an emphasis on printed materials
• To evaluate the quality and longevity of these restorations as reported by the literature
• To assess what “definitive” really means, and how it applies to these trending materials
• To discuss how knowledge of these restorations fit into decision making when prescribing restorative materials for patients