Etched porcelain veneer restoration of a primary tooth: a clinical report.

The treatment of a retained primary tooth in the adult dentition has always been a difficult clinical problem. In the anterior region of the mouth, the problem is further complicated by esthetic requirements. In this clinical report, a primary canine was recontoured both incisally and interproximally with an etched porcelain veneer to provide an esthetic result. The use of etched porcelain as an indirect veneer material, which has demonstrated clinical success, is an alternative to the requirements of conservative dentistry, namely, preservation of tooth substance and safeguarding primary tooth vitality. The procedure used in this clinical report differs from traditional procedures. The preparation was extended to the lingual surface of the tooth, which allowed for an increase of the incisal length and added a sufficient amount of porcelain. The etching procedure was performed twice by applying 30% phosphoric acid etchant gel to the prepared tooth.