Armchair diagnosis and cosmetic dentistry treatment plan.
- History: This person is missing a front tooth. The tooth that is missing should lie between teeth #1 and #2 and should be similar in shape and size to tooth #3.
- Cosmetic dentistry treatment plan step #1: Orthodontic treatment (braces). For the most part, a person's smile is defined by their six upper front teeth. Each of these teeth has a characteristic size and shape and when one of them is missing an asymmetry will exist.
The most ideal treatment plan for this case would involve the use of orthodontic treatment to create a space between teeth #1 and #2, which in turn would provide a space for the missing tooth. The missing tooth could then be replaced via one of the following procedures (depending on the treating dentist's diagnosis):
- The use of orthodontic treatment so to position the person's own natural tooth into the space. (In those cases where the tooth was initially "missing" in the sense that it is not visible but did exist and was present up in the jawbone.)
- The placement of a dental implant.
- The placement of a dental bridge.
While our "after" picture does not reflect this, the orthodontic treatment would also idealize the alignment and appearance of the back upper teeth as well as the lower teeth.
- Cosmetic dentistry treatment plan step #2: Once the alignment of the teeth has been improved and provisions have been made for the missing tooth, this person's dentist might suggest making shape adjustments for the other front upper front teeth by way of dental bonding,
porcelain veneers, or else dental crowns.
|
