Positioning Peg Laterals & Undersized Lateral Incisors for Optimal Aesthetics
When restoring peg laterals and laterals that are undersized, great goals are to optimize the final aesthetics and not have to do any tooth preparation prior to adding restorative material. In this blog, I’d like to discuss where we should have the orthodontist optimally position the laterals prior to restoration.
True Peg Laterals
In the case of a true peg lateral, I think of the tooth like I would an implant abutment. In my mind’s eye, I visualize the tooth as a fixture with an abutment on it.
When I talk with the orthodontist, I communicate that I want a minimum of 1 mm and a maximum of 1.5 mm of space between the mesial on the lateral incisor and the distal on the central incisor.
If there is excess space, it is going to be on the distal. We always hide excess space or insufficient space on the distal side of an upper anterior tooth. We always want to perfect the effect on the mesial so we achieve a perfect emergence profile.
And then I communicate that I want the labial of that peg lateral to be positioned about 1 mm to the lingual of where the final facial of the tooth position will be so that I can add material–composite or ceramic, without having to prep the tooth. This position is going to ideally position the free gingival margin of the tooth exactly where I want it based on the free gingival margin of the canine and central incisor. The CEJ is going to be placed exactly where I want the CEJ.
Undersized Lateral Incisors
Often, we have lateral incisors that are not true peg laterals. They’re just undersized lateral incisors. In this case, we must do a thought process about how much restorative material will be added and calibrate how much forward dimension will be added to the tooth. If I’m going to have .5 mm of material on the labial, then I will have the orthodontist position the tooth .5 mm lingually.
If the emergence profile is perfect, then the orthodontist should make it touch the central and all the added material will go on the distal. If not, then a little material will be added to the mesial and to the distal.
Often, for me, the process is thinking, “Where do I want to add restorative material and how much material do I want to add?” Then, I think about where to position the tooth in the space so I will not need to remove any of the tooth structure.
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E4: Posterior Reconstruction and Completing the Comprehensive Treatment Sequence
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About Author
Dr. Lee Ann Brady is passionate about dentistry, her family and making a difference. She is a general dentist and owns a practice in Glendale, AZ limited to restorative dentistry. Lee’s passion for dental education began as a CE junkie herself, pursuing lots of advanced continuing education focused on Restorative and Occlusion. In 2005, she became a full time resident faculty member for The Pankey Institute, and was promoted to Clinical Director in 2006. Lee joined Spear Education as Executive VP of Education in the fall of 2008 to teach and coordinate the educational curriculum. In June of 2011, she left Spear Education, founded leeannbrady.com and joined the dental practice she now owns as an associate. Today, she teaches at dental meetings and study clubs both nationally and internationally, continues to write for dental journals and her website, sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Inside Dentistry and DentalTown Magazines and is the Director of Education for The Pankey Institute.
Excellent post and very specifically posted. Well thought out and explained