Abstract: Objective: To investigate the clinical feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Dahl Concept in the restorative treatment of localized anterior tooth wear. Methods: A total of 8 patients with insufficient restorative space caused by localized anterior tooth wear were enrolled in this study. The local occlusal elevation appliance (Dahl splint) was adopted to minimally invasively increase the intermaxillary distance, followed by the completion of fixed restorations. The treatment cycle and the amount of increased occlusal space were recorded. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed before treatment and prior to the fabrication of the final restorations to observe the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as well as the pulp, periodontal, and root conditions of the treated teeth. Regular follow-up was conducted after the completion of restorations. Results: The treatment cycle from the application of the Dahl splint to the restoration of extensive occlusal contact ranged from a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 5 months, with a median of 3.9 months. The follow-up period varied from 1 year (minimum) to 3 years (maximum). Finally, all patients regained extensive occlusal contact of the entire dentition, with the occlusal space increased by (1.5-4) mm and a mean increase of (2.5±0.4) mm. No widening of the periodontal ligament space, root resorption or alveolar bone resorption was observed in the treated teeth, and no significant imaging changes were found in the temporomandibular joints. Conclusion: When insufficient restorative space is caused by localized anterior tooth wear or defect, the Dahl Concept is an effective, conservative, and relatively safe solution. However, more high-quality clinical researches are required in the future to observe its long-term clinical efficacy.

Key words: Dahl concept, Dahl splint, local anterior tooth wear, occlusal elevation, restorative space