Over the course of time, dentistry has evolved from a primitive form of medicine to modern day use of preventable dental care, state of the art diagnostics and modern age treatment. There are records of people dealing with teeth going back over thousands of years. Researchers have traced evidence of dentistry dating as back as 7500 B.C. to Ancient Egypt, with ancient Egyptians being the forerunners of modern dentures and crowns. Between 500-300 B.C., Hippocrates and Aristotle further contributed to this evolution by writing about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth treating decayed teeth and gum disease etc.
Throughout the years, there was a notable progress recorded relating to dental medicine. The rapid conversion from old type dentistry practices to the use of top of the notch materials and methods has been nothing short of remarkable. Patients can now keep their oral cavity healthy without the once overwhelming discomfort experienced during visits to the dentist.
State of the art technologies such as 3-D imaging, digital impressions and CAD/CAM restorations have affected the profession in significant ways and reduced the number of visits required for complex dental procedures and reconstructions. Experienced teams of dentists and other oral care providers apply the most advanced dental techniques in order to achieve immediate and impeccable results when it comes to general and cosmetic dentistry and of course smile makeovers.
Full mouth reconstructions are becoming an increasingly popular treatment. The aesthetic and functional restoration of severely worn dentitions constitutes one of the most demanding clinical challenges. Nevertheless, new technologies such as Robotic Dentistry and Digital Smile Design (DSD) have made it possible in just two visits. Computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) is used to produce different types of dental restorations including crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays, fixed bridges, orthodontic appliances etc. This method facilitates minimally invasive surgical procedures since it improves predictability, thus allowing your dentist to be in complete control of the final result. It also allows the presurgical construction of master cast and accurately fitting, custom designed restorations. Only one set of local anaesthetic injections is required, while everything is carried out in one single visit!
Digital Smile Design (DSD) is a multipurpose conceptual protocol for dentists, technicians and other specialists, created by Dr Christian Coachman. This process actively involves the patients, making them the co-designers of their smiles! A series of high quality digital photographs and videos analyse the patients’ facial and dental proportions for a more natural, confident and beautiful smile reflecting their personality.
DSD also contributes to improved communication between the dental team and increases effectiveness of case presentation, clinical efficiency and predictability. Accurate case documentation reduces the planning time as time-consuming and expensive mistakes are avoided.
Achieving the best possible aesthetic and functional long-term results depends on teamwork and the use of cutting edge technology tools. Nowadays, dentistry practices are all about safety, maximum comfort and precision.
The article is written by the eminent dentist Michalis Zenonos, owner of “Dr Zenonos – The Dental Clinic” in Limassol, Cyprus.
