MD interproximal contacts

STEP 1

THE ESTHETIC ANALYSIS

In the last decade, Dentistry has shifted the attention towards Esthetic greatly. Computer software have been developed to visualize the new smile already during the first consultation, and thanks to these marketing tools more costumers are ready to accept esthetic improvements at the level of their teeth. There are no doubts about the psychological contributions of these interventions to the patient’s quality of life. However, questions arise when the treatments not only require the removal of healthy tooth structure (Subtractive, invasive Dentistry), but also impair the function of the patients. In general, it could be stated that all the esthetic interventions which lengthened and thickened the incisal edges may potentially create functional conflicts, especially if they are not associated to an increase of VDO to guarantee the presence of a functional space. Basing the smile re-looking only on standard esthetic rules, which will not consider each patient unique, can be also very risky for the longevity of the planned esthetic restorations. To correctly plan a new smile, energy should be invested in studying the specific situation (stop and think). Consequently, instead of spending time during the first consultation, proposing esthetic shape of the teeth which are not functionally suitable for the patients, the 3STEP technique prefers to postpone the information on the esthetic outcome of the treatment after the initial data are elaborated (analysis of the articulated models). At the conclusion of the initial consultation, where the attention must be focused mostly on the diagnosis of the problem (e.g. incisal edge wear) the patient is informed that if he/she can know more about the most appropriate dental treatment, an esthetic mock-up visit can be scheduled. This will give the time for the lab tech and clinician to analyze which esthetic rehabilitation that patient can afford.