The restorative needs for the prosthodontic patient frequently require an increase in occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). This may be due to loss of tooth structure and concomitant loss of OVD, supereruption of opposing teeth into edentulous spaces, or for esthetic reasons. It is often difficult to assess whether OVD has truly been lost. Therefore, it may be prudent to focus on whether alteration in OVD is restoratively acceptable. Another consideration for the alteration in OVD is changes in soft tissue profile. In addition to the correct proportions of the teeth, the relationship of the...

Selection for lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (LDGC) restorations have increased significantly in the field of prosthetic dentistry. The material possesses remarkable beauty and strength and is composed of an acicular crystalline material (70%) embedded in a glassy matrix. The translucency, esthetics and successful clinical performance have made LDGC one of the most popular all-ceramic materials. With the increased demand for metal-free restorations, LDGC meets the requirement for a material possessing strong mechanical properties combined with the optical properties of natural teeth....

In the last decade, applications of tissue engineering technology in dental regenerative medicine have expanded enormously. In particular, the use of mesenchymal stem cells, which are highly proliferative and have the capacity to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic cells, promises to have a positive impact on the future of dentistry. In clinical dental therapy, several non-stem-cell based methods have been developed for periodontal and bone tissue engineering. These methods include the stimulation of regeneration using enamel matrix proteins, guided tissue...