Dental Tribune Nordic Edition No.4, 2016

as the mock-up is produced under the same conditions as for a tem- porary crown. In addition, this non-invasive technique does not require preparation, retention, bonding or anaesthesia. The pa- tient will certainly appreciate this tissue-preserving approach. As such, the patient will perceive the treatment as more of an ad- venture.6 Of course, however, mock-ups are not without their restrictions. Their indication is restricted to prosthetic restorations in the an- terior region, with severe mal- formations representing a contra- indication, as the teeth may be positioned outside of the shape of the wax-up. The technique is also not indicated in cases in which enameloplasty is required (too long or too severely curved tooth). As production of a mock-up requires a certain degree of dex- terity, it should be initially prac- tised on a plaster model before work is performed directly in the patient’s mouth. The therapeutic treatment of a patient may re- quirealongerperiod;eventhough the mock-up phase can be very informative and useful for patient communication, it remains an additional, facultative phase. Fur- thermore, dentists who do not use self-curing composites for tempo- rary restorations could view pro- curement of these materials as an additional cost factor. However, it is worth weighing up the fact that the mock-up could considerably improve patient acceptance in an extensive treatment and thus the investment could indeed be worth it. Nothing is more frustrating for a dentist than investing time and effort in the development of a long, complex treatment plan only for it to be rejected by the patient because it fails to meet his or her expectations. Final remarks The mock-up constitutes a simple, reversible technique that can be easily performed in rou- tine clinical practice. As a preview made of composite, it allows vali- dation of the planned prosthetic restoration in the mouth from an aesthetic, functional and psycho- logical perspective. This opens up a whole new dimension to the pa- tient, as he or she is able to try out his or her future smile and is thus better able to imagine the end re- sult. Patient compliance increases and the dentist–patient relation- ship benefits. From the dental laboratory’s perspective, this method pro- vides the dental technician with additional information, which allows him or her to tailor his or her work precisely to the patient’s and dentist’s expectations. The improved communication rein- forces the cooperation between the dentist, patient and dental technician. Note: This article was originally pub- lished in the Dental Tribune Study Club France magazine, 03/2015. It is published here with the kind permission of the author and OEMUS MEDIA. A list of references is availa- ble from the publisher. 15 Dental Tribune Nordic Edition | 4/2016 TRENDS & APPLICATIONS “Patient compliance increases, as he or she can follow the treatment plan more calmly and is better informed.” AD Dr Yassine Harichane graduated from the Faculty of Odontology at Paris Descartes University and now works in research. He is a member of the Cos- metic Dentistry Study Group and can be contacted at yassine.harichane@ gmail.com.

Dental Tribune Nordic Edition No.4, 2016

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