Aesthetics Flashcards
What is an occlusal cant?
To put it simply, an occlusal cant occurs when the teeth appear to be slanted relative to the nose and lips. May show more teeth on the RHS than LHS and vice versa.
What is an emergence profile?
Defined as the contour of the tooth or dental restoration where it meets, or “emerges” from the gingiva.
Lateral shapes of tooth, the contours.
What is a smile line?
Linked to the amount of gingiva showing. Average, high or low.
High - too much gum
Low - Top lip covers too much teeth.
What is the buccal corridor?
The dead (dark) space around the smile. Normal, enlarged or narrow.
Name the 3 criteria for restorations - HFA
H - Health
F - Function
A - Aesthetics
Name the shapes of smile
Convex smile, Flat smile, Reverse smile
Convex - follows shape of the lower lip
Reverse - Sometimes with toothwear
State a way of which you can investigate a patient’s occlusal cant
Ruler at inter pupillary line, ruler at the teeth along incisal edges, judge how parallel they are.
What is gingival zenith?
The zenith is defined as the most apical point of the gingival marginal scallop. It is never actually in the midline of the tooth, it is slightly to the distal.
It is important as it is very obvious to the eye - aesthetics. In orthodontics the zenith moves with the teeth.
What happens to the enamel as we age?
As we age, enamel gets thinner and tooth appears less monochromatic.
What is a black triangle?
Space between the teeth - with a black triangle, the papilla tissue, or gum tissue that exists between the teeth, is no longer present.
Incisor features - what is a lobe?
The central incisor has three lobes, the middle lobe being the largest, tends to be depressed and least prominent.
Incisor features - what is a developmental groove?
The developmental grooves divide the lobes and run parallel to the long axis of the tooth.
Incisor features - what is a transitional line angle?
The central and lateral incisors have a mesial and distal transitional line angle which are similar to marginal ridges in posterior teeth.
In between transitional line angles, the teeth tend to be flat and at the transitional line angles the tooth curves round and drops into the embrasures.
When do you carry out shade selection?
At the beginning! Can be rapid shade change due to dehydration so never do it once tooth is dried.
What is the composite button technique in regards to shade selection?
1.0mm blobs of various shades placed onto tooth and set but with no acid etching so it does not bond. Allow 1 minute to rehydrate and reassess shade of composite to be used.
