Pinhas Adar Discusses Veneers
Reprinted from Creation Palette

THE CREATION PALETTE managed to catch up with Master Ceramist Pinhas Adar. Pinhas practices dental technology in his Oral Design Center in Atlanta, GA., and is well known, among other things, for his extraordinary porcelain laminate veneers. Pinhas contributed chapters in a book by Dr. David Garber called Porcelain Laminate Veneers. He completed a full report on veneers that includes 17 of the most commonly asked questions. We've published a sample of these questions. For Pinhas' full report, please call Jensen at 800-243-2000.

Q: How long have you been doing veneers and what techniques have you used to fabricate them?

A: I have been doing veneers for about eleven years and have used many different methods. There are several ways to fabricate veneers, but I use the platinum foil technique for most of my cases.

Q: What are the indications for veneers?

A: There are many indications for porcelain veneers: 1. Diastema closures 2. Color change . 3. Tooth enlargement 4. Malposition 5. Fracture 6. Tetracycline staining.

Q: What are the advantages of porcelain laminate veneers?

A: Veneers are an alternative to other types of restorations that may compromise the enamel or the pulp, as full-crowns sometimes do. Plus, the color is often superior and more lifelike than direct bonding or full crowns, and veneers tend to resist staining. They're quite strong once they've been luted into place. The gingival response is usually better than with bonding because of the highly polished finish of the porcelain.

Q: What are the disadvantages of porcelain laminate veneers?

A: Compared to direct bonding, veneers require an additional visit to the dentist and are usually more expensive. They are very technique sensitive and are brittle before being luted into place.

Q: Can veneers be done without tooth preparation?

A: Some clinicians believe that they can be done without tooth preparation. I feel that it's better to have a slight chamfer around the gingival margin so there's no bulky transition between tooth structure and porcelain. No tooth preparation may work fine in cases where the teeth are lingually inclined and can be built out buccally.

Q: What is the advantage of using the platinum foil technique vs. the refractory or other techniques?

A: Platinum foil is quicker and easier. Because a veneer is fabricated on a master die directly and needs no duplication, it saves time. The porcelain matures and bakes better in the furnace and, since the foil does not absorb heat, thickness can be checked before completion. Plus, if a veneer breaks, you can start refabrication on the same model without having to duplicate a new one.

Q: Can you combine veneers with crowns and have an adequate color match?

A: Yes, quite often we have to combine cases such as laminates, crowns, and implants to improve aesthetics.

Q: How well does Creation porcelain work for veneers compared to other porcelain laminate systems on the market?

A: The quality of veneers, of course, depends greatly on the skills of the ceramist, but I think Creation has all the optical properties needed to mimic natural dentition. I've tried many porcelains including systems developed specifically for veneers. I did an experiment where I built four sets of veneers using four different brands of porcelain. The patient chose the Creation set because it sparkled in the mouth and it had an iridescent effect. Creation has other optical properties including opalescence and fluorescence.

For more information call Jensen at 800-243-2000.

Revision 0, 11/16/99