Dr. Chong Bo Dhi

This Class IV restoration on a maxillary lateral incisor was completed using Shofu Beautifil II.

Rather than relying on stains to create the illusion of depth and vitality, I prefer selecting an enamel shade that naturally expresses its own optical properties. When the translucency, value, and light transmission are correct, the restoration blends with the adjacent tooth without the need for artificial characterization.

For me, long-term aesthetics begin with:
• Conservative cavity preparation
• Accurate shade selection
• Understanding composite optical properties
• Careful finishing and high-gloss polishing

Natural teeth are beautiful because of how they interact with light—not because they are heavily stained. Our restorations should aim to do the same.

The emergence zone deserves a different surface treatment.

For the visible part of the implant crown, staining and glazing are still used to achieve the final shade and characterisation.

However, at the subgingival emergence zone, the glaze is removed and the zirconia is polished to a high shine. This allows the peri-implant soft tissue to contact highly polished zirconia rather than porcelain stain or glaze, providing a smoother and more biocompatible surface.

In this case, Shofu ZirGloss polishing paste was used to achieve a high-gloss zirconia surface at the emergence zone.

A small laboratory detail, but an important one for peri-implant tissue health and long-term maintenance.

Immediate implant on a vertical root fractured 36.

In this case, I used a prefabricated custom healing abutment immediately after implant placement.

Benefits of a prefabricated custom healing abutment:
• Less chairside time
• Better finishing and polishing quality
• Predictable soft tissue emergence profile

The challenge, however, is that the implant must be placed exactly in the center. Since the healing abutment is prefabricated, even a slight deviation in implant position can affect its fit and the final emergence profile.

Digital planning and precise implant placement make this workflow efficient and predictable.

Composite artistry isn’t just about layering. It’s about understanding where it matters most.

This case involved:
• Class III composite restorations on 12 and 13
• Class V composite restoration on 13

All restorations were completed using Shofu Injectable X with a single injectable composite system.

While many techniques focus on increasingly complex layering protocols, my approach is slightly different. I place greater emphasis on three fundamentals:

* Conservative and well-designed cavity preparation
* Precise adaptation of the restorative material
* Careful finishing and polishing

These steps have a greater influence on the long-term aesthetics, margin integrity, plaque resistance, and colour stability than simply adding more composite layers.

When the foundation is correct, achieving a natural and durable restoration becomes much more predictable.

AnteriorComposite RestorativeDentistry DrChongBoDhi

A small milestone, but a meaningful one.

I’m grateful to have been awarded the Fellowship of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI).

This recognition reminds me to keep learning, improving, and providing the best possible care for my patients. Thank you to my mentors, colleagues, patients, and the amazing team at Chong Dental for your trust and support.

The journey continues.

A radiolucent lesion was detected at the 12 region, years after the tooth had been extracted. While the clinical and radiographic features were suggestive of a residual cyst, a definitive diagnosis can only be made through histopathological examination.

In this case, the lesion was carefully enucleated and submitted to the pathology laboratory for confirmation. Every tissue deserves a diagnosis—not an assumption.

After complete removal of the lesion, the bony defect was grafted using Sigma Oss to support bone regeneration and preserve the ridge for future restorative options.

One small surgical detail I prefer in the aesthetic zone: instead of placing a midline vertical releasing incision, I made a single vertical incision distal to the canine (13). This helps preserve the midline soft tissue and minimizes the risk of visible scarring in a highly aesthetic area.

Strength is not just about the material—it’s about the bonding protocol.

For many years, lithium disilicate (e.max) has been considered the gold standard for ceramic overlays due to its excellent adhesive bonding.

Today, modern zirconia has changed the game. With the correct surface treatment and bonding protocol, zirconia overlays can achieve highly predictable clinical outcomes while offering exceptional fracture resistance.

In this case, I restored a heavily compromised lower premolar with a zirconia overlay, preserving healthy tooth structure instead of preparing a full crown.

The bonding protocol included:
• Air abrasion
• BSM ZirBond zirconia primer
• Adhesive resin cement

A predictable workflow, conservative preparation, and a durable restoration.

Special thanks to BSM for providing both the BSM Zirconia Disc and BSM ZirBond used in this case.

Immediate Implant, Simplified Soft Tissue Management

Not every immediate implant needs a customized healing abutment.

In this lower molar immediate implant case, I used Shofu Injectable X to flow around a stock healing abutment, creating a customized emergence profile chairside in just a few minutes.

This simple approach offers several advantages:
• Maintains the soft tissue contour immediately after extraction.
• Supports a natural emergence profile during healing.
• Faster and easier than fabricating a conventional customized healing abutment.
• Cost-effective without compromising clinical objectives.
• Easily modified or removed when needed.

By using the flowable injectable composite to adapt directly around the healing abutment, the peri-implant soft tissue is guided from day one, making the restorative phase more predictable.

Sometimes, the simplest workflow delivers the most efficient result.

What is your preferred approach for immediate implant tissue management?

Attended an intensive soft tissue masterclass with Homa Zadeh and added the VISTA technique (Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access) into my workflow.

Minimal incision. Better blood supply. More predictable soft tissue outcomes.

Always refining, always improving—so patients get cleaner, more stable, and more aesthetic results.

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Some people unwind with Netflix… I unwind with zirconia staining 🎨

Despite the busy clinical days, back-to-back patients, and constant rush — sitting down to do zirconia staining gives me a different kind of peace. Quiet, focused, almost therapeutic.

Just me, the brush, and the details.

Reminds me why I fell in love with dentistry in the first place — it’s not just science, it’s art.

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