In recent years, dentistry has immensely progressed with the help of technological developments. In the past, restorations emphasizing endurance used to be adequate, but in today’s dentistry, aesthetical integrity is a very important requisite in addition to endurance. In aesthetical dentistry, the goal is to make restorations closest to natural form, as well as introducing the best possible aesthetical mouth pattern and smile, by designing the tooth in the best manner according to interrelationship of gum and lips, face pattern and characteristics. In addition to function, beautiful, symmetrical, and natural looking teeth and smile comprise an important part of aesthetical integrity.
Aesthetics is the image perceived as attractive by the brain. Aesthetics goes along with the natural concept of golden ratio. Aesthetics involve harmony. Speaking of aesthetical dentistry, we need to apply such requirements of aesthetics just like an artist, which shows that dentistry has an artistic side.
We don’t see aesthetical dentistry as merely replacing the existing teeth, or restoring them with aesthetical restorative materials. First, we fully analyze the client’s face. Basic principle in today’s aesthetical dentistry is to take the person as a whole, without focusing on just the face of the client. Teeth are important components of face aesthetics, and it is important to treat it based on what is needed, by correctly analyzing the face. Aesthetical dentistry concept also involves planning the treatment so as to choose protective treatments where we cut tooth less. For example, if there is just a problem with the color of the tooth, and no problem in client’s tooth form and array, then bleaching treatment may be preferred. In further color inconsistencies where bleaching does not suffice, laminates may be preferred, which can be applied after very slight, or none, etching on the tooth. Such laminates are applied using composite or porcelain materials. If you have a problem of tooth crowding or inter-jaw relationship, we can correct it through orthodontic treatment, which is a much more protective treatment.
Also, aesthetical assessment of molar teeth (located at the back of the mouth) is a must for today’s aesthetical dentistry. In the past, molar teeth used to be filled using cumbersome amalgam materials, based on the rationale that they are not visible already, but today we prefer aesthetical fillings. Furthermore, such aesthetical fillings are being coloured to achieve similarity with the natural tooth tissues and to imitate natural teeth in chewing surface shapes. By now, we apply such aesthetical fillings on teeth that they cannot be distinguished from natural teeth.
To summarize aesthetical applications:
