Scan-layered reconstructions: A pilot study of a nondestructive dental histoanatomical analysis method and digital workflow to create restorations driven by natural dentin and enamel morphology

Objective: This work aims to present a pilot study of a non-destructive dental histo-anatomical analysis technique as well as to push the boundaries of the presently available restorative workflows for the fabrication of highly customized ceramic restorations.

Materials and methods: An extracted human maxillary central incisor was subject to a micro computed tomography scan and the acquired data was transferred into a workstation, reconstructed, segmented, evaluated and later imported into a Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing software for the fabrication of a ceramic resin-bonded prosthesis.

Results: The obtained prosthesis presented an encouraging optical behavior and was used clinically as final restoration.

Conclusion: The digitally layered restorative replication of natural tooth morphology presents today as a clear possibility. New clinical and laboratory-fabricated, biologically inspired digital restorative protocols are to be expected in the near future.

Clinical significance: The digitally layered restorative replication of natural tooth morphology presents today as a clear possibility. This pilot study may represent a stimulus for future research and applications of digital imaging as well as digital restorative workflows in service of esthetic dentistry.