If a lateral incisor is restored in normal alignment with PFM retraction, how might the tooth appear?

When a lateral incisor is restored in normal alignment with Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) retraction, it can sometimes lead to the appearance of the tooth being too narrow. This is primarily because the natural anatomy of a lateral incisor is generally more slender compared to other anterior teeth, such as centrals.

PFM restorations are designed to mimic the size and shape of the original tooth. If the restoration does not adequately represent that slimmer profile or if the margins of the restoration are retraced in a way that visually reduces the width, it can create the illusion of the tooth being narrower than it should be. Additionally, when viewed in the context of adjacent teeth, any discrepancies in proportion can be accentuated, leading to the perception of narrowness.

This optical effect can be influenced by several factors, including the contour of the restoration, the shading and color match, and how light reflects off the materials used. Therefore, in the context of lateral incisors, which are naturally narrow, improper restoration alignment can easily lead to a final appearance that seems too narrow.