Mastering anterior direct composite restorations is a necessity for the contemporary clinician who appreciates and understands the art and science of cosmetic dentistry. In the esthetic zone, composite bonding procedures are considered the most conservative and least invasive technique to return missing, diseased, and unsightly tooth structure to enhanced color, form, and function. Composites' ...

With conventional fixed dental prostheses, the interim restoration is a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of esthetics and function. To achieve predictable definitive esthetic results, information about the subgingival and the supragingival contour of a properly designed restoration should be communicated to the dental laboratory technician. The technique described enables the accurate...

This article provides information regarding the many ways that removable partial dentures (RPDs) may be used to solve restorative problems in the esthetic zone without displaying metal components or conspicuous acrylic resin flanges. The esthetic zone is defined and described, as are methods for recording it. Six dental categories are presented that assist the dentist in choosing a variety of R...

Dental implants are now considered as a predictable treatment modality for the oral rehabilitation of partially or fully edentulous patients. Recently emphasis has changed towards achieving a predictable esthetic success. Creating aesthetically successful implant-supported restoration in the anterior region of oral cavity depends on the presence of interimplant papilla when multiple implants ar...

The aim of this paper is to report a clinical case with bilateral missing mandibular second premolars that were restored by metal-ceramic inlay-retained fixed dental prostheses. The first prosthesis was of a traditional design and the second was of a modified design. The suggested design is created by modifying the retainer wings of the traditional resin-bonded inlay-retained fixed dental prost...

Direct composite resin restorations have become a viable alternative for patients that require anterior restorative procedures to be integrated to the other teeth that compose the smile, especially for presenting satisfactory esthetic results and minimum wear of the dental structure. Technological evolution along with a better understanding of the behavior of dental tissues to light incidence h...

Adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment are increasingly motivated by esthetic considerations. The majority of these patients reject wearing labial fixed appliances and are looking instead to more esthetic treatment options, including lingual orthodontics and Invisalign appliances. Since Align Technology introduced the Invisalign appliance in 1999 in an extensive public campaign, the appli...

Replacing a single tooth with an implant has become a common dental procedure; however, careful evaluation is necessary before placing one in the esthetic zone. Thorough diagnosis and planning - including the use of transposed diagnostic casts and cone beam computed tomography scans - can help dentists predict the final esthetic result prior to treatment, and help inform the patient of the pote...

The placement of dental implants in the anterior maxilla is a challenge for clinicians because of patients' exacting esthetic demands and difficult pre-existing anatomy. This article presents anatomic and surgical considerations for these demanding indications for implant therapy. First, potential causes of esthetic implant failures are reviewed, discussing anatomic factors such as horizontal o...