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32 I I industry report _ IPS Empress CAD Multi The versatility and flexibility of the IPS Empress CADMultiblockisthusfurtherenhanced.Afterthe restoration had been milled, it was seated on the model. The restoration had an excellent fit. Owing tothegradationofopaqueandtranslucentshades from the cervical to the incisal region, the restora- tion had a very natural appearance (Fig. 8). In the case presented, the restorations were glazed but did not have to be characterised be- cause of the IPS Empress CAD Multi block’s lifelike aesthetics. The reason that Iglazedtherestorationwas not primarily to improve its aesthetic appearance, but to impart it with even higherstrength.Intheliter- ature, glaze firing is gener- ally referred to as a means of increasing the strength of IPS Empress CAD re- storations. I would like to point out however that IPS Empress CAD restorations also possess sufficient strength to ensure successful, long-term results if they are merely polished. Following try-in, the restorations were adhesively cemented (Fig. 9). Particularly in the cementation of veneers, strict adherence to the cementation protocol is crucial to ensuringlong-lastingresults.Normally,IuseVario- link II luting composite, since it allows (thin) all- ceramic restorations to be reliably, durably and aesthetically cemented. In the case presented, I de- cided to use the universal luting composite Multi- linkAutomix,asitisveryeasytouseandconvenient. The restorations were reliably cemented in just two steps. The high bond strength and long-lasting adhesion that are achievable with this system have been confirmed by numerous studies conducted in recent years. In contrast with Variolink II, Multilink Automix is only available in three different shades (yellow, transparent and opaque). As the patient’s teeth did not show any severe discolouration, the choice of materials was sufficient in this case. Figure 10 shows the restorations three years aftercompletionofthetreatment.Therestorations still look attractive and the gingival tissue has a healthy colour. We are proceeding on the as- sumption that the dark triangle between the two front teeth will become smaller over time. The four teeth were restored with IPS Empress CAD Multi block inaverysatisfactoryfashion,andthepatient was very pleased with the result. _Summary In Japan, it is generally assumed that conven- tional, laboratory-based restorative procedures are superior to computer-assisted techniques. Some experts are of the opinion that CAD/CAM- basedsystemsevenposeathreattotheprofession of laboratory technician as a whole. In my opinion, this is a huge misconception. On the contrary, CAD/CAM technology and the manual skills of laboratory technicians can be ideally combined to achieve optimal results. The flexible use of digital and analogue techniques helps to better fulfil patient needs and advances modern dentistry. This position is corroborated by the case presented in this article, which was restored by making full useofthepossibilitiesofferedbytheCERECsystem and the IPS Empress CAD Multi block. I will con- tinue to provide my patients with high-quality restorations, also by using sophisticated proce- dures. These procedures ensure that durable re- sults and thus a high level of patient satisfaction are achieved._ Fig. 8_The milled restorations seated on the model show an excellent fit. Fig. 9_The adhesively cemented IPS Empress CAD Multi restorations demonstrate the typical gradation of shade from the cervical to the incisal area and thus harmoniously blend into the oral environment. Fig. 10_The lip line of the happy patient three years after completion of the treatment. The restorations are in an impeccable state and are still aesthetically pleasing. CAD/CAM 2_2010 Dr Gunpei Koike Koike Dental Clinic 1-20-1 NobiYokosuka Kanagawa 239-8041 Japan www.koikedc.com www.cerec.jp CAD/CAM_contact Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10