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CDE0111

42 I I industry report _ IPS Empress Direct _The new generation of resin composite ma- terials in combination with modern layering tech- niques allows today’s practitioners to treat their patients with minimally invasive, highly aesthetic directrestorations.Owingtotheirenhancedprop- erties, these materials produce results that are hardly distinguishable from natural dentition, es- pecially with regard to colour, which is particularly desirable in anterior teeth. The new composite IPS Empress Direct (Ivoclar Vivadent) enables us to create restorations that are almost invisible to the human eye. The appro- priate increment technique together with correct handling of the materials and high-gloss polish- ing produces predictable, aesthetic results directly in the mouth. Owing to its nano-hybrid structure, the material can also be used to restore posterior teeth. IPS Empress Direct materials are available in various levels of opacity, translucency and bright- ness. By combining the different materials, tooth- like light scattering can be achieved. The working steps of the technique used to place IPS Empress Direct are described in this article. _Clinical case: Step-by-step restorative procedure A young patient presented with a defective resin composite filling in tooth #11. The margin was no longer tight and the interface between the tooth structure and the restoration exhibited staining. What is more, the chroma, opalescence and shade of the filling did not correspond to that of the natural dentition (Fig. 1). According to the treatment plan, the filling would be removed, the cavity prepared along min- imally invasive principles and the tooth restored with a direct resin composite. In order to achieve impeccable integration of the restoration in the oral environment and an aesthetic smile line with a uniform colour, the composite would have to be placed using the increment technique. As the cavity had walls on all sides, there was no need to create a wax-up or a silicone template to restore cosmeticdentistry 1_2011 Aesthetic restoration created with composite Author_ Dr Anna Salat Vendrell, Spain Fig. 1_Pre-op situation. Fig.2_Absolute isolation of the operating field with a rubber dam is the ideal form of moisture control. Fig. 3_Preparation of a small circular chamfer. Fig. 4_Etching with 37 % phosphoric acid. Fig. 5_Application of the adhesive. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5