Article:

Esthetic dentistry demands more of clinicians than just simple knowledge of tooth anatomy and the proper dimensions of teeth. Dentists must also know and understand the proper positions of the teeth in relation to the gingiva, the lips, and entire face. Esthetic measurements are not the only important factors. Other considerations need to include the patient's phonetics and function. A example of a situation where this knowledge and awareness is imperative is in the case of the worn dentition (eg, attrition, abrasion, etc). This article addresses a simple case of how a patients esthetics have been compromised as a result of erosion as well as parafunctional activity (toothbrush abrasion) and how the patient was eventually restored with an interdisciplinary approach between the restorative dentist and the periodontal surgeon.