Redefining Esthetic Excellence Through Defect-Oriented Adhesive Dentistry

Contemporary esthetic dentistry demands restorations that are not only beautiful, but biologically respectful and mechanically sound. This interdisciplinary presentation—delivered jointly by clinician and technician—explores defect-oriented, minimally invasive treatment concepts from veneers and partial coverage restorations to resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (Maryland bridges).

Rather than following conventional full-coverage approaches, treatment decisions are guided by the size and location of the defect, substrate quality, and functional risk assessment. Clinical protocols for preparation design, adhesive strategies, and occlusal management are correlated directly with laboratory design principles, material selection, and digital workflows.

Emphasis will be placed on how restorative thickness, connector dimensions, bonding surface, and framework design influence long-term success and esthetic integration. Clinical cases will illustrate how close collaboration between clinic and laboratory elevates predictability while preserving natural tooth structure.

This lecture presents a structured, interdisciplinary framework for achieving high-level esthetics through biologically driven, minimally invasive adhesive solutions.

1. Apply defect-oriented decision-making to determine when veneers, overlays, or resin-bonded prostheses are the most conservative and predictable solution.
2. Correlate preparation design and adhesive strategy with material selection and laboratory design parameters to enhance longevity.
3. Strengthen interdisciplinary communication between clinician and technician to optimize esthetic integration and functional performance.

Presenters

Irena Sailer, DMD

Irena Sailer received her dental education and Dr. med. dent. degree from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany in 1997/ 1998. In 2003 Dr. Sailer received an Assistant Professorship at the Clinic of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Dental Material Sciences in Zurich. From 2010 on she was an Associate Professor at the same clinic. In 2007 Dr. Sailer was a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics, Dental College, New York University, USA.

Since September 2013 she is the Head of the Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials at the University of Geneva. In 2019 Irena Sailer received an Honorary Skou Professorship of digital dental technologies, fixed and implant prosthodontics and biomaterials at Aarhus University, Denmark. Additionally, from 2009 to 2024 she was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, Robert Schattner Center, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA (Head: Prof. Dr. M.B. Blatz). Since 2024, she is an auxiliary Senior Associate Dean for Digital Transformation at Columbia University in New York, USA.

Irena Sailer is a Specialist for Prosthodontics (Swiss Society for Reconstructive Dentistry) and holds a Certificate of focussed activities in Dental Implantology (WBA) of the Swiss Society for Dentistry.

She is the President Elect of the European Association of Osseointegration (EAO), and the Past President of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED). Furthermore, she is an Active Fellow of the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics (GNYAP).

Since beginning of 2019 Irena Sailer is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Prosthodontics. She is also the author or co-author of more than 230 peer reviewed scientific manuscripts, 7 book chapters and the monograph “Fixed Restorations – a clinical guide to the selection of materials and fabrication technology” together with Prof. Bjarni Pjetursson and MDT Vincent Fehmer. She holds several patents on esthetic coatings of dental/ medical devices, and on a digital dental splint.

Vincent Fehmer, MDT

Vincent Fehmer is a Master Dental Technician (MDT), at the Clinic for Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Center for Dental and Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland (Head: Prof. Dr. I. Sailer) and Adjunct-Professor at the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences der Associated Faculty der School of Dental Medicine University of Pennsylvania (Head: Prof. Markus Blatz)

Vincent Fehmer received his dental technical education and degree in Stuttgart, Germany in 2002. From 2002 to 2003 he preformed fellowships in Great Britan and the US in Oral Design certified dental technical laboratories. From 2003 to 2009 he worked at an Oral Design certified laboratory in Berlin, Germany - The Dental Manufaktur Mehrhof. In 2009 he received the degree as a MDT in Germany. From 2009 to 2014 he was the chief dental technician at the Clinic for Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics in Zurich, Switzerland. Since 2015 he is dental Technician at the Clinic for Fixed Prothodontics and Biomaterials in Geneva, Switzerland and runs his own laboratory in Lausanne Switzerland.

MDT Fehmer is a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology, an Active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED), and a member of the Oral Design group, the European Association of Dental Technology (EADT) and German Society of Esthetic Dentistry (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ästhetische Zahnheilkunde, DGÄZ). He is active as speaker on a national and international Level.

Mr. Fehmer has received honors like the KENNETH RUDD AWARD from the American Prosthodontic Society. He has published more than 75 articles in peer reviewed journals within the field of fixed prothodontics and digital dental technology, contributed to book chapters and co-authored the book "Fixed Restorations". 

Also he serves as Editor in Chief of the QDT Yearbook, as Editor in Chief for the International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry and is a Section Editor for the International Journal of Prosthodontics.