ceramic epithesis
Case ReportPatient InformationAge/Sex: 70-year-old female with good general health. Chief Complaint: Difficulty with speech and food intake after a previous anterior surgical procedure.Dental Status: Existing fixed bridge replacing teeth 12, 11, and 21; anchored on 14, 13, 22, 23, and 24.Clinical FindingsA postsurgical defect in the anterior maxilla impaired phonetics and mastication.The existing bridge showed no technical defects or pathology.Initial Treatment PlanThe suggested plan was to remove the existing bridge and fabricate a new one with pontics, closing the defect.Conservative AlternativeA more conservative solution was chosen: preserving the existing fixed bridge and fabricating a ceramic epithesis cemented to the bridge from the palatal approach.Steps:Digital impression: Full-arch scanning with a 3D intraoral scanner.Model fabrication: Working model produced on a 3D printer.Prototype epithesis: Designed and fabricated on a 3D printer, tested intraorally for function and comfort.Final restoration: Ceramic epithesis (E-Max) fabricated based on the prototype.Cementation: Adhesively bonded to the palatal aspect of the existing bridge using Panavia V5 (self-etch cement).Outcome and Follow-upThe epithesis restored proper phonetics and food intake.The patient reported comfort and satisfaction.No complications were observed at follow-up.ConclusionAlthough the initial plan was to remove the bridge, a conservative, minimally invasive approach—keeping the existing prosthesis and augmenting it with a ceramic epithesis cemented palatally—proved successful. This strategy preserved healthy structures while providing a functional and comfortable prosthetic solution.
By Radek Mounajjed
Free course on Cicero dental education platform.
Topics: epithesis, e-Max, Ceramic, 10-MDP