Author: Nicolas Coomber – COLTENE National Account & Marketing Manager
In all areas of dentistry, patients are often seeking fast solutions that deliver a combination of aesthetics and cost-efficiency. For clinicians, it is just as important to ensure function and longevity, but achieving all of these objectives can be challenging. The answer is often in the techniques, technologies and materials used.
Increasing patient demands
Patient expectations are driven by a number of factors. In today’s society, aesthetics are often important and this can cause people to prioritise their looks when investing in themselves. When it comes to dentistry, this typically means that individuals either seek highly cosmetic outcomes from the treatment they need, or that they are motivated primarily by aesthetics.
This trend is at least partially driven by the massive growth and influence of social media. The platforms are thought to be one of the main sources of information for patients considering any medical procedure, especially among women. They are also potentially informing and influencing patient expectations when it comes to aesthetic results.[i] A recent systematic review even found that social media was leading to overtreatment and raised ethical dilemmas for dentists wanting to balance marketing with delivering care in the best interests of their patients.[ii]
While dentists can use social media to their benefit to spread oral health messages and promote their services, the channels do come with a warning. Many of the images shared do not outline the full story and have no context in terms of the invasiveness of treatment, the cost and the time taken to complete. As such, patients may be misguided or unrealistic in what they hope to achieve for themselves – making it essential to clearly establish and manage their expectations before any treatment begins.
Recommendations from dento-legal advisors are to keep information accessible, avoiding dental jargon to increase patients’ understanding. It is also important to show empathy and to encourage a two-way conversation so that the patient can give feedback or ask questions to further enhance their knowledge.[iii]
Aesthetics and functionality
Once patients appreciate what is and is not possible for their treatment, it is vital that any procedures be planned to optimise aesthetic outcomes without compromising function or longevity. In fact, the latter two are the main priorities for the clinician, who will need to consider a vast range of factors to ensure patient satisfaction at the same time.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the treatment planning. Every procedure must be detailed ahead of time, taking into consideration the current and future occlusal, masticatory, speech and temporomandibular health. Any potential risks of complications should be anticipated and mitigated against, increasing the chance of success in the long-term.
This is particularly important in restorative dentistry, where even the smallest change to a tooth can have a significant and far-reaching impact. For example, maintaining optimal occlusion is integral to the long-term stability of a restoration.[iv] Getting this wrong will likely result in repeated fractures, repairs and replacements, with the appropriate patient frustration that comes with them. This is true of all types of restoration, although the time and financial implications will vary substantially between a single unit composite restoration and an implant-retained bridge.
Material selection is just as crucial to minimise complications and optimise their durability,[v] while also ensuring aesthetics. The COLTENE BRILLIANT EverGlow composite is an ideal solution as a universal submicron hybrid composite that delivers easy handling, form stability, excellent polishability and long-lasting lustre. Three translucency levels and enhanced Duo Shades further make it simple to achieve highly aesthetic restorations that blend seamlessly with the natural dentition.
Striking the right chord
Balancing function, longevity and aesthetics is essential for high-quality patient care in the modern world. While patient expectations must be managed carefully, clinicians should always be aiming for stunning restorations that stand the test of time. With the right restorative techniques and materials, all this and more can be achieved.
For more on COLTENE, visit https://colteneuk.com/BRILLIANT-EverGlow
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.
[i] Baik, Khadijah M., Anbar, Ghazal, Alshaikh, Abeer, Banjar, Arwa, Effect of Social Media on Patient’s Perception of Dental Aesthetics in Saudi Arabia, International Journal of Dentistry, 2022, 4794497, 6 pages, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4794497
[ii] Rostamzadeh, M., Rahimi, F. Aesthetic dentistry and ethics: a systematic review of marketing practices and overtreatment in cosmetic dental procedures. BMC Med Ethics 26, 12 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01169-6
[iii] Large A. Managing patient expectations. BDJ Team. 2020;7(9):31. doi: 10.1038/s41407-020-0431-9. Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMCID: PMC7562756.
[iv] Aldowish AF, Alsubaie MN, Alabdulrazzaq SS, Alsaykhan DB, Alamri AK, Alhatem LM, Algoufi JF, Alayed SS, Aljadani SS, Alashjai AM, Alamari AS. Occlusion and Its Role in the Long-Term Success of Dental Restorations: A Literature Review. Cureus. 2024 Nov 7;16(11):e73195. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73195. PMID: 39651022; PMCID: PMC11624512.
[v] Santos MJMC, Zare E, McDermott P, Santos Junior GC. Multifactorial Contributors to the Longevity of Dental Restorations: An Integrated Review of Related Factors. Dent J (Basel). 2024 Sep 12;12(9):291. doi: 10.3390/dj12090291. PMID: 39329857; PMCID: PMC11431144.
