Visualizing the natural dentition.

Abstract

This article describes a method for visualizing a final restoration before it is begun. Visualization of natural tooth forms comes with its own vocabulary, which will act as our guide and serve as our interpreter when we communicate with the dental laboratory technologist and the patient (Figure 1). The final challenge is to convert what has been seen in nature to dental restorations, which is best accomplished when the clinician has a “vision” of the final creation based on an understanding of nature’s variations.