Lee Ann Brady, DMD's Dental Blog

  • Home
  • About Dr. Lee Ann Brady
  • Dental Practice
  • Categories
    • Dental Materials
    • Esthetic Dentistry
    • Occlusion/TMD
    • Practice of Dentistry
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Restorative Dentistry
    • Restorative Techniques
    • Treatment Planning
    • Videos
    • A-Z Topic List
  • Speaker’s Packet Request
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Esthetic Dentistry / Matching Surface Morphology

Matching Surface Morphology

By Lee Ann Brady on 11.02.11Category: Esthetic Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry

Surface Morphology Marked with Articulating Film

Matching the surface morphology of an anterior tooth is a critical component in achieving exquisite esthetics. It doesn’t matter if we are restoring the tooth with composite, porcelain or simply sculpting a provisional. One of the challenges in being able to match the surface morphology to create symmetry on either side of the midline is how we document it. This weekend I learned a very neat way to see the existing surface morphology of the teeth or of my restorations during a lecture by Dr. Brian LeSage at the Heraeus 4th Annual Symposium. If you have ever played the game as a kid where you uncover what was written on the previous piece of paper by using a lead pencil, then this will be a cinch. With a pencil and a piece of paper you simply use the side of the lead to color the paper, and it leaves the depressions in the paper from the previous page white so now you can read them.

On teeth we can accomplish the same thing, and color the high spots, leaving the depressions in the labial surface uncolored so we may more easily see this texture. With the teeth dry, use a piece of articulating paper, and run the paper or silk across the facial surface of the teeth. When you step back and look it will be very easy to now see the surface morphology. You can photograph the teeth this way as part of your lab communication. it is also a great way as you are sculpting an anterior composite or provisional to match what you are creating to the natural teeth. I played with this several times since the lecture, and it works with multiple types of articulating paper. I have used the Bausch paper and Madam Butterfly Silk. What I find amazing is how easy it is to visualize both the macro-texture so I can match the lobes of the teeth, but also the mictotexture, the perikymata and imperfections in the enamel surface. This will now be a permanent piece of my technique and photography series.

Related

Share

Leave a Comment Cancel

Search

Recent Posts

  • Retraction Paste Technique Sensitivity
  • The Next Generation of Glass Ionomer Cements
  • A Fantastic New Temporary Cement
  • Tissue Blanching When Seating An Implant Restoration
  • Is It Time To Get An Intra-oral Impression Scanner?
  • Does Your Team Order The Dental Materials You Want?

Recent Comments

  • Mary on Ugh, The Margins Are Open!
  • Lee Ann Brady on FMX or Panorex?
  • Debbie on FMX or Panorex?
  • Shavon on Allergic Reaction To A Dental Cleaning?
  • Joe on Stick Bite: Why and How
  • Joan Johnson on Post & Core’s Coming Loose?

Policies

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Cancellations and Refunds

Security Seal

© 2020 Lee Ann Brady LLC, All Rights Reserved Site by CSL