At long last, Dr. Nacho’s last BIG event, his retirement party with Dr. Smithson, has arrived! Did you miss out on the Nacho fun? No worries – just keep reading to get an overview. 

Day 1 CE

The world of dental restoration - where the terms "composite resin" and "full coverage crowns" get thrown around more than a frisbee at a beach party. But here’s the kicker: what happens when your tooth falls into that dreaded grey area? You know, not quite small enough for a simple filling but also not ready to go full King Crown. It’s like choosing between ordering a salad or a double cheeseburger - both have their place, but isn’t there a happy medium?

DAY 1 AM: The Heroic Ceramic Onlay

Enter the ceramic onlay, the unsung hero of dental restorations. Think of it as the Robin Hood of dentistry - taking from the excess (the need for a full crown) and giving to the poor (your damaged tooth). It’s the perfect middle ground for those teeth that can't decide if they're just a little hurt or preparing for doomsday.

The “How Do We Fix This?” Phase

Modern dentistry is like a detective show, complete with its own buzzwords like “Peripheral Rim Theory” and “Immediate Dentin Sealing.” Sounds fancy, right? But essentially, it boils down to two things:

1. 1. Knowing when to jump in with your superhero cape and fix that tooth.
   2. Or sitting back, monitoring like a hawk, and maybe passing out some tooth-friendly candy (a.k.a. implementing a preventative program).

And then there’s the “minimally invasive cavity preparation,” which is dentist-speak for “keeping as much of your tooth as we possibly can because we’re nice like that.”

DAY 1 PM: Horizontal Crowns and Adhesive Bridgework

Moving onto the afternoon shift, where we tackle the full veneer crown. This bad boy is the bread and butter of dental work, the “most utilized preparation in clinical dentistry.” Picture this: you are creating a masterpiece that would make your technician weep tears of joy. And it’s not just about looking good; it’s about fitting so well that you forget it’s even there.

But wait, there’s more! Ever thought about replacing missing teeth without turning the neighboring ones into sacrificial lambs? That’s where minimal intra-enamel preparation adhesive bridgework comes in. It’s like building a bridge with minimal environmental impact – but for your mouth.

The Step-By-Step Dance Routine

1. Select your burr like you’re picking out shoes for a night out - what’s going to be comfortable, stylish, and practical?
2. Angulate and speed your way through the prep like you’ve got the dance floor all to yourself.
3. Choose your materials like you’re at a buffet. Lithium disilicate? Zirconia? Why not a bit of both?

And the grand finale - bonding an adhesive bridge with the finesse of a master chef plating their signature dish. Voilà!

Day 2 CE

Welcome back to our dental saga, where we continue to unravel the mysteries of the mouth with the precision of a cat trying to figure out if it can fit in a box (hint: it always can). Yesterday was all about onlays, crowns, and the glamorous world of adhesive bridgework. Today, we're flipping the script and talking vertical crown preparation and the Hollywood of dental solutions – ceramic veneers. Grab your popcorn, folks; this is going to be a bumpy ride.

Once upon a time, in a galaxy not so far away, the vertical margin was the bee's knees in fixed prosthodontics. Then, like every trend from the '90s, it vanished faster than your dignity at a karaoke bar. But guess what? It's making a comeback, baby!

Why Did We Ghost the Vertical Margin?

Well, it turns out, dental schools started treating the vertical margin like that weird uncle at family gatherings—acknowledged but not really embraced. They thought it was causing more drama than a season finale of your favorite show, with over-contoured restorations and periodontal plot twists.

The Plot Twist

But, oh, how the tables have turned! With new materials on the scene and a better understanding of tissue biology (sounds fancy, right?), the vertical margin is now the minimally invasive hero we didn't know we needed. It's like discovering you can actually get a decent meal from a gas station; surprising yet delightfully convenient.

Moving on to the afternoon session, where things get even spicier. Ceramic veneers are like the Instagram filters of dentistry—making everything look pretty without anyone knowing what’s really going on underneath.

Planning Is Everything

Just like you wouldn't build a house without a blueprint, you shouldn't dive into veneers without a plan. Enter, Facially Generated Treatment Planning (FGTP), which is basically a fancy way of saying, "we've thought this through." It ensures your teeth don’t end up looking like they're trying too hard to impress on a first date.

The Magic of Preparation

Preparing for veneers is like prepping for a night out. You want to look good but not like you've spent hours in front of the mirror. It's all about those invisible margins—because nobody likes to see the effort behind the magic.

Provisionals: Not Just a Placeholder

And then there are provisionals, the unsung heroes of the veneer process. They're like the understudies in a Broadway show—ready to shine, even though they're not the main star. Done right, they won't stain, fall off, or throw a tantrum.

Thus, day two in our dental odyssey brings us full circle, from the resurgence of vertical crowns to the finesse of ceramic veneers. It's a reminder that in the world of dentistry, as in life, everything old can be new again, and beauty really is more than skin (or enamel) deep.