Luke S. Kahng, CDT

Regardless of price, many patients are looking for answers to their esthetic needs. They know technology will allow them even better results than ever before.

As everyone in the dental industry knows, technology is moving at a rapid pace and helping dental technicians work faster as well. We were not able to fabricate restorations as quickly or accurately in the past but we have greatly surpassed what we used to be able to do with the invention of CAD/CAM and other technologically advanced equipment.

A 55-year-old gentleman sought a smile make-over and a full reconstruction of his dentition. The case was somewhat unique for me in that the clinician was working in Florida, and the case would be completed nearly 1,500 miles away at my lab in Illinois. This, of course, meant there was no way for the patient to meet with me for a personal visit to verify shade, fit, incisal edge positioning, contour or shape in the final restoration.

Dental technology is moving at a very fast pace and products are changing all the time. Convenience is key, and in this current economic situation, we all want to be more efficient with our materials to cut down on our overall costs. Everyone is searching for ways to save time but still achieve the best possible results. The following procedure shows how one porcelain powder can be used to achieve outstanding results. This system is very simple to master and easy to work with. Case Study

To match an anterior tooth for a custom shade is the most difficult of procedures, as every technician knows. One problem is there are so many factors that relate to the final outcome, including: 1) Adjacent teeth color is often a big problem. If they are opacious in color, that is easier to mimic in our restorations than translucency or transparency; 2) The height of contour of the teeth, lobe and the type of surface texture all relate to the final color, as well.

There are several different color choices for creating a treatment plan wax-up. Most lab technicians use white solid, clear or gray wax, finding this to be acceptable. It’s a standard operating procedure because the results are predictable, the material easy to work with.

Our patient, a female in her mid-30s, is the sister of a dental hygienist. Because of this close relationship, there were two people carefully inspecting her dental work, one with plenty of knowledge about the field.

We in the dental community have all been concerned for some time about the high price of gold in the London market. We are directly affected by these prices because of the uncertain economy and the metal supplies necessary to fabricate our crown and bridge work.

There are a lot of factors that go into matching color for the posterior teeth. Harmony is sometimes difficult to achieve because patients often have amalgam fillings in these teeth, which will generate a blue tint to the enamel. We need to first understand natural teeth color and then see a proper preparation reduction margin design to create a matching restoration for the molars. We also have to look at the occlusal surface of the adjacent teeth. This article will detail a case for one of my own clients, a periodontist, who trusted me with his work.

There are enough children born with congenitally missing laterals to warrant discussion about how to solve the problem of social embarrassment for them even if it’s just a temporary solution. Later, when the patient is an adult, he or she can decide to move forward with a permanent answer, be it implants or bridgework, whatever resolution best suits him or her.

We sometimes struggle to match a patient’s tissue color. The tough connective gingiva, which lines the base of the teeth, is part of the lining of the mouth. Not only does it surround the teeth, it also produces a seal. Unlike the soft tissue linings of the lips and cheeks, most of this gingiva is tightly bound to the underlying bone, which aids in resistance of the chafing of food as it’s chewed.

Everyone in the dental field knows that the single central is the most difficult to match. The case premise will always revolve around color and design as well as material selection. If we select the right materials, we will be able to successfully create an esthetically pleasing case for our patient. The amount of room we are allowed for our porcelain build-up will have a great deal to do with the final outcome of the case, as well. Allowance must be made for translucency and opacity as well as the facial thickness of the porcelain.

The patient, a 50-year-old female, presented with a large diastema, irregular teeth size and dull color. Furthermore, the shape of the teeth on the right versus left sides was different-as is apparent in the pre-op photo (Fig. A). The teeth on her left side were longer than those on the right.