A smile makeover is a very complex and involved treatment which incorporates an in-depth knowledge of smile design, proper occlusion, and the ability to work with a team - including the dental laboratory technician. Typically, the treatment plan begins to come to life after a detailed smile analysis and a wax up which is ideally fabricated by a lab technician. The skilled technician’s hands use a free-hand approach in the wax up. The difficulty lies in the dentist transferring this plan, complete with the proper form and fine details, to the patient’s mouth.

While porcelain crowns or veneers are the mainstay of this type of treatment, composite veneers offer a less costly option. Composite can also be used as an interim restorative material while phasing treatment and allowing the patient to proceed through treatment at their own pace. With the advent of new composite filler technology, it is now possible to utilize flowable composites which have wear properties similar to traditional composites. These new injectable composites, combined with clear PVS matrices, can be used to quickly and accurately duplicate the wax up in the patient’s mouth. This new approach significantly lessens the learning curve for new dentists performing full mouth rehabilitation or smile makeovers.

Learning objectives

• Identify materials used in the injection molding technique
• Understand a step-by-step method of injection molding
• Identify uses for the injection molding technique