The most observed portions of the body when meeting new people are the eyes and teeth.[i] As such, smiles play a massive part in social interaction and are a key part of feeling and looking good. For those dissatisfied with their smiles, the psychosocial implications can impact job prospects at interviews, the search for dating partners, and, ultimately, self-esteem.[ii] Aesthetic and restorative dentistry can prevent this.
The standard of an ideal smile remains undetermined, but an attractive smile features a balanced, harmonious relationship between the teeth, gingiva and lips, interplaying within the dynamic display zone of the face.iv Natural aesthetic options achieve a desirable realism that the bleach-white shadings can’t, making them ideal options. Practitioners who provide excellent aesthetic restorations can dramatically improve the self-esteem and quality of life for treated patients.[iii]
Meeting the demand
Aesthetics is the marriage between art and the science of dentistry.iii In a world increasingly defined by beauty trends, such as seeking a ‘Hollywood smile’, patients looking for smile makeovers are dominating those who are concerned with their oral health.[iv] As dentistry advances, the range of tools available to treat patients grows.[v] Practitioners must therefore keep up with the latest innovations and patient demands so that they can offer exceptional aesthetic restorations.[vi]
Oral health and function are integral to aesthetic success; dentists should provide the patient with education on proper oral hygiene practices and long-term maintenance strategies.[vii] This will help limit restoration failure and preserve its longevity.iii
Procedure
Aesthetic restorations require comprehensive treatment planning: intraoral examinations, diagnostic evaluations, radiographic assessments, and digital smile analyses are part of the process.vi Additionally, understanding the principles of smile design (such as attaining the desired proportions and symmetry) and being aware of the different interdisciplinary treatment modalities that are available are also vital for successful treatment.iii
However, communication is an essential part of the process, as it is difficult for a dentist to achieve a pleasing aesthetic result if they do not have a clear understanding of what the patient wants.[viii] Entering an aesthetic procedure blind can be frustrating and time-consuming, leading to dissatisfaction for the patient and a higher risk of them moving to another practitioner for treatment.vii To avoid this, the best dentistry is achieved through careful, clear communication with the patient before any treatment begins.
Fifty shades
The perception in the media about beauty has improved. Whilst social media and the associated photo editing may still encourage flawless, unattainable standards for some people,[ix] it can also promote body-positivity imagery that deconstructs traditional notions of beauty.[x] Patient demand for minimally invasive applications that have a natural look has risen.[xi] Subsequently, there is now an extensive range of natural tooth colours and shades among restorative materials that are able to blend symmetrically with the patient’s adjacent teeth.[xii]
Colour matching is a key component in aesthetic considerations.vi Achieving a seamless integration requires precise shade selection and the consideration of chromatic and translucency characteristics.vi Technological advances have allowed more precise colour matching to mimic natural teeth, helping to fulfil the demands of the patient by finding their ideal colour.vi
However, practitioners should consider that, whilst people prefer smiles with a lighter teeth shade, such desired treatments may clash with their clinical background and ethical values.[xiii] Dentists should take a minimally invasive approach wherever possible to avoid overtreatment and proect the patient’s health. Communicating such notions is vital to maintaining patient care.
Treatment options
To provide highly aesthetic restorative outcomes, try the Filtek Easy Match Universal Restorative from Solventum, formerly 3M Health Care, for intuitive shade selection. It offers Bright, Natural and Warm shades for simplified single-layer restorations, without the need for a blocker. The Filtek Easy Match streamlines your workflow, reducing waste of infrequently used shades and making shade selection a quick and easy choice that doesn’t sacrifice opacity. The natural-looking results will make your patients proud to smile.
Aesthetics are vital for the development of a pleasing smile. Through clear communication and using the latest equipment to match the desires of the patient, you can provide high quality aesthetic restoration services that leave everyone smiling.
©Solventum 2024. Solventum, the S logo and Filtek are trademarks of Solventum and its affiliates. 3M and the 3M logo are trademarks of 3M.
About Solventum
At Solventum, we enable better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients’ lives for the better while enabling healthcare professionals to perform at their best. Because people, and their wellbeing, are at the heart of every scientific advancement we pursue. We partner closely with the brightest minds in healthcare to ensure that every solution we create melds the latest technology with compassion and empathy. Because at Solventum, we never stop solving for you.
[i] www.sciencedirect.com. (n.d.). Esthetic Dentistry – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/esthetic-dentistry.
[ii] Soh, J., Wang, Z.D., Zhang, W.B. and Kau, C.H. (2021). Smile Attractiveness Evaluation of Patients Selected for a U.S.-Based Board Certification Examination. European Journal of Dentistry, 15(04), pp.630–638. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1726670.
[iii] van Sambeek, R.M.F., de Vos, R., Crins, L.A.M.J., Bronkhorst, E., Mehta, S.B., Pereira-Cenci, T. and Loomans, B.A.C. (2023). Perception of oral health related quality of life and orofacial aesthetics following restorative treatment of tooth wear: A five-year follow-up. Journal of Dentistry, [online] 136, p.104626. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104626.
[iv] Al-Asmar, A.A., Al-Hiyasat, A.S., Abu-Awwad, M., Mousa, H.N., Salim, N.A., Almadani, W., Rihan, F., Sawair, F.A. and Pitts, N.B. (2021). Reframing Perceptions in Restorative Dentistry: Evidence-Based Dentistry and Clinical Decision-Making. International Journal of Dentistry, [online] 2021, pp.1–10. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/4871385.
[v] Shikha, Gandhi & Gaikwad, Ashwini & Nitin, Shah & Chandni, Patel. (2016). INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY. 03. 590-596. Accessed via: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363133662_INTERDISCIPLINARY_APPROACH_TO_RESTORATIVE_DENTISTRY
[vi] Nayar, S., Aruna, U. and Bhat, W. (2015). Enhanced aesthetics with all ceramics restoration. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 7(5), p.284. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.155957.
[vii] Punia, D.V. (2022). Prosthodontics Revolution: Modern Techniques in Dental Restorations. [online] Google Books. Inkbound Publishers. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GgEJEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA55&dq=delivering+aesthetic+restorations&ots=pseWQZaZE_&sig=duAnaremwLUudkTygpx1cRNqwfM#v=onepage&q=delivering%20aesthetic%20restorations&f=false [Accessed 21 Jun. 2024].
[viii] Freedman, G. ed., (2012). Chapter 5 – Smile Design. [online] ScienceDirect. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323068956000050 [Accessed 21 Jun. 2024].
[ix] Shannon, Amy & Hogue, Jacqueline. (2017). Beauty, Body Image, and the Media. 10.5772/intechopen.68944. Accessed via: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320671751_Beauty_Body_Image_and_the_Media
[x] www.surrey.ac.uk. (n.d.). Body positive images on social media improve how men view their bodies | University of Surrey. [online] Available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/body-positive-images-social-media-improve-how-men-view-their-bodies#:~:text=30%20January%202024-.
[xi] Bahadır, H.S., Karadağ, G. and Bayraktar, Y. (2018). Minimally Invasive Approach for Improving Anterior Dental Aesthetics: Case Report with 1-Year Follow-Up. Case Reports in Dentistry, [online] 2018, pp.1–5. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4601795.
[xii] Mohammed, A.O., Mohammed, G.S., Mathew, M., Alzarea, B. and Bandela, V. (2022). Shade Selection in Esthetic Dentistry: A Review. Cureus, [online] 14(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23331.
[xiii] Al-Asmar, A.A., Al-Hiyasat, A.S., Abu-Awwad, M., Mousa, H.N., Salim, N.A., Almadani, W., Rihan, F., Sawair, F.A. and Pitts, N.B. (2021). Reframing Perceptions in Restorative Dentistry: Evidence-Based Dentistry and Clinical Decision-Making. International Journal of Dentistry, [online] 2021, pp.1–10. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/4871385.
