Cosmetic dentistry beauty & science

I 03 editorial _ cosmetic dentistry I cosmeticdentistry 3_2013 _Cosmetic dentists around the world routinely perform various diagnostic and thera- peutic procedures that involve occlusion (fillings, crowns, bridges, removable prostheses, implant-supported restorations, full mouth rehabilitation and orthodontics). Aesthetics is relatedtohumanperception,desiresandpersonality,andisbasicallyguidedbysocialtrends, while occlusion is related to forces and entails the relation between the maxillary and mandibular teeth when they are in contact and the masticatory system’s response to the forces generated by the new position of the teeth. Smile aesthetics and occlusion has been, andisstilltosomeextent,controversial,astherearenumerousquestionsrelatedtosmileand occlusion that have not been answered with scientific certainty and there are many diverse and polarised opinions regarding this. In their undergraduate education, dental students are not fully trained in the science and art of both smile aesthetics and occlusion. When these new graduates enter into clinical practice and begin undertaking complex clinical cases, many become confused with the numerous theoretical recommendations and varied concepts about cosmetic dentistry and occlusion in academic and clinical dentistry. In order to understand the core relationship betweensmileaesthetics(macro,miniandmicro)andocclusion(masticatoryforcemanage- ment), a clinician must be familiar with the pros and cons of all the popular concepts and theories regarding smile aesthetics and occlusion, and based on this select the most conser- vative treatment that is best suited to the patient and that will ensure health and function. Withthisinmind,twoglobaleducationalacademies,namelyMinimallyInvasiveCosmetic Dentistry (www.micdglobalacademy.com), or MiCD, and Teeth, Muscles, Joints and Airway Harmony (www.tmjaharmony.com), or TMJA, have been established with the aim of pro- moting healthy, comprehensive dentistry by disseminating the relevant knowledge and information regarding various concepts, theories and clinical protocols concerning smile aesthetics and occlusion. IampleasedtomentionherethatrecentlytheFacultyofDentistryofThammasatUniversity in Thailand and the Vedic Institute of Smile Aesthetics in Nepal, along with three supporting partners(SHOFUDentalAsia-PacificinSingapore,TekscanintheUSA,andBio-ResearchAsso- ciates in the USA), signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the MiCD and TMJA Harmony International Training and Treatment Center at the Faculty of Dentistry of Tham- masat University. This centre will coordinate with various like-minded clinicians, academics and researchers working in the field of cosmetic dentistry and offer structured, skill-based traininginMiCDandTMJAharmonydentistryespeciallyfordentistsintheAsiaPacificregion. In this year’s third issue of cosmeticdentistry, we have included various clinical articles, from simple cosmetic restorations to complicated implant treatment. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue. Dr Sushil Koirala Editor-in-Chief President Vedic Institute of Smile Aesthetics (VISA) Kathmandu, Nepal Smile aesthetics and occlusion: Acontroversial topic in dentistry Dr Sushil Koirala Editor-in-Chief