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ePaper created 2016-04-01, 17:18:57 | version 1.38.0
Dental TribuneAsia Pacific Edition | 4/201604 NEWS & OPINION It is interesting to note the trends in cosmetic dentistry train- ing these days. Cosmetic dentists are spending time and money learningvarioussmiledesigntech- niques and protocols. In recent years, the use of computer-guided digital devices (hardware and soft- ware) in smile design has become quite popular and many clinicians are already trained in different kinds of digital smile design pro- tocols. If we carefully analyse digital smile design techniques or pro- tocols, it can be established that they generally follow three steps: photography, digital analysis (calculation) and digital wax-up (drawing, cut and paste). After these clinical steps, dentists have two choices for achieving the final trial smile. The first and most popular one is a laboratory-fabricated acrylic or composite restoration and the other one is CAD/CAM fabricated. Forthemanualapproach,thelabo- ratory technician has to manually wax up the digital design. Even though digital smile design uses computer-guided techniques and protocols,theentiredesignprocess isnotthatasfastasmanyclinicians may think. This is because the den- tist needs to develop specific com- puter graphic skills, be involved in digital communication with the laboratory, as well as pursue emo- tional counselling and marketing tactics. Severalmonthsago,Iaskedsome of my close Asian, American and European friends who have com- pleted various digital smile design courses about the use of digital smile design protocols in their daily practice. It was surprising to learn that none of these popular cosmeticdentistsregularlyusedig- ital smile design in their practice. They frankly informed me that such techniques are timeconsum- ing and computer design is not as easy as the day-to-day restorations that they do. I was also told that theyusedigitalsmiledesignproto- colsonlywhentheyneedtopresent clinical cases for conferences or seminars. I was quite pleased with their candid comments, as I rarely use digital smile design myself, be- cause I do not want to give stock smilestomypatientsbasedonuni- versal design formulas. I apply art more than science when designing new smiles for my patients. I re- spectmypatients’personaldesires and needs and guide them in achieving natural and realistic smiles with low biological cost. Ihaveneversoldcosmeticdentistry using the emotional counselling tactics of digital smile design, be- cause I firmly believe that exploit- ing emotions to sell cosmetic den- tistry actually constitutes emo- tional blackmailing of patients. Keeping all of the above in mind, I have recently developed a simple “QuickSmileDesign”concept,which is not new but a logical modifica- tionoftheage-olddirectcomposite mock-up technique. The beauty of this simple tech- nique is that it is fast, realistic and predictable. You do not need to open your computer and spend time using Photoshop. Your pa- tients will instantly be able to give their comments about the aesthet- ics and level of comfort of your smile design. You do not need to acquire computer graphic skills. Moreover,thistechniqueindirectly enhances the dentist’s direct cos- metic restoration skills. I hope you will have the opportunity to learn about it in the upcoming issue of the cosmetic dentistry magazine. DrSushilKoirala is Chairman of the Vedic Insti- tute of Smile Aesthetics. He is also Editor-in- Chief of Dental Tribune’s sister publication cos- metic dentistry. Dr Koraila can be contacted at drsushilkoirala@gmail.com. Dental Material GmbH 24537 Neumünster / Germany Tel. +49 43 21 / 5 41 73 Fax +49 43 21 / 5 19 08 eMail info@promedica.de Internet www.promedica.deVisit www.promedica.de to see all our products Glass ionomer luting cement • high level of adhesion • highly biocompatible, low acidity • continuous fluoride release • precision due to micro-fine film thickness • translucency for perfect aesthetic results Light-curing nano-ceram composite • Perfect aesthetics • Highly biocompatible • Low polymerisation shrinkage • Universal for all cavity classes • Comfortable handling, easy modellation • Also available as a flowable version AD Smile design: Art or science? By Dr Sushil Koirala,Nepal “I do not want to give stock smiles to my patients.” DTAP0416_04_News 30.03.16 15:17 Seite 1 Tel. +494321 / 54173 Fax +494321 / 51908 DTAP0416_04_News 30.03.1615:17 Seite 1