Incisal preparation design for ceramic veneers

The authors reviewed and identified the evidence for the various incisal preparation designs for ceramic veneers.The authors searched MEDLINE with PubMed and Ovid to identify any articles in the English language related to the topic up through March 2017 using a combination of key words: "porcelain veneer or ceramic veneer or dental veneer or labial veneer" AND "preparation," NOT "composite veneer," NOT "crown," NOT "implant," NOT "fixed partial denture or bridge or denture," NOT "porcelain-fused-to-metal," NOT "marginal gap or fit."In vitro studies showed that the palatal chamfer preparation design increases the risk of developing ceramic fractures. The butt joint preparation design had the least effect on the strength of the tooth.Surveys show the 2 most common incisal preparation designs provided are butt joint and feathered-edge. Clinical studies have identified that incisal ceramic is the most common location of ceramic fracture. In addition, there is a lack in standardization of the modeling structures and type of finite element analysis.The evidence seems to support the use of butt joint over palatal chamfer incisal preparation design. Fracture or chipping is the most frequent complication and the risk increases with time. Incisal ceramic is the most common location of ceramic fracture.