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Home » Archives for musfeldt

musfeldt

6 Photos Every Dentist Should Send With a Cosmetic Cases!

May 8, 2021 by musfeldt

A smile design has so many factors that need to be considered both esthetically and functionally.  The functional issues are most often determined on the articulator but photos are necessary in determining the esthetics. Whether your sending records for a diagnostic wax up or the case has been prepped and the wax up has been transferred to the mouth, these are six photos that should be sent to the lab.  Below I will show each photo and what I as a dental technician am looking at and for with each one.

Full Face Smile Photo

With the full face smile photo I am trying to determine:

  1. Is there a midline cant?
  2. Is there an incisal cant?
  3. Facial asymmetry (Eyes, Earlobes, lip canting, chin deviation, etc.)
  4. Buccal corridor
  5. Gingival architecture

Chin to Nose Smile

The chin to nose smile helps determine:

  1. Teeth length (too long, too short, ideal) 
  2. Gingival architecture (Is crown lengthening beneficial)
  3. Buccal corridor (Fill, reduce, maintain)

Full Face Reposed

The full face reposed shot helps determine:

  1. Tooth exposure in the rest position and whether it is appropriate for the patients age
  2. Do lower teeth show or not

Profile Smile Photo

The profile smile photo determines:

  1. The labial position of the teeth in the face (Flared, Reclined, Ideal)

Left Lateral View (Retracted or Not)

The left lateral view is used to determine:

  1. Used to assist in articulation 
  2. Used to assess tooth shape and postion

Right Lateral View (Retracted or Not)

The right lateral view determines:

  1. Used to assist in articulation 
  2. Used to assess tooth shape and position

These are the photos I ask for with every case, because they help me determine where I would like to go with the design of a cosmetic smile design.  These photos help spur conversations between the dentist and dental technician that assist in the best result for the patient.

Filed Under: For the Doctor, For the Patient, For the Technician Tagged With: smile design

WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSTIC WAX UP FOR?

February 18, 2021 by musfeldt

Dentists utilize diagnostic wax ups for multiple reasons.  I will discuss various wax up options and what they can be used for.  I’ll walk through one or two types of cosmetic wax ups over three separate blogs along with photos to help visualize many of the differences and the ways they are utilized.   The options we will discuss are as follow:

[Read more…] about WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSTIC WAX UP FOR?

Filed Under: For the Patient, For the Technician

Six Steps for Successful Shade Taking

July 13, 2017 by musfeldt

 

Communicating the custom shade of a single central or any single unit in the anterior region is one of the most difficult tasks taken on by dentists and technicians.  It is also extremely critical for cosmetic dentistry purposes.  Accurately portraying what the dentist sees requires more than just a photo.  Properly interpreting the information to the ceramist is key .  The objective of this blog is to alleviate the difficulty in this scenario.  Six easy steps should get everyone on the same page.

[Read more…] about Six Steps for Successful Shade Taking

Filed Under: For the Doctor, For the Technician Tagged With: cosmetic dentistry, custom shade, lab communication, shade taking

Should I Platform Switch my Dental Implants? Three Reasons Why!

May 23, 2017 by musfeldt

Should I platform switch dental implant abutments?  This may have been somewhat of a controvery a decade ago but there is plenty of scientific data to support the efficacy and benefits at this point.  A platform switch is using a smaller diameter abutment on a larger diameter implant platform.  In addition to the aesthetic benefits discussed later, platform switching allows the patient to more effectively clean the dental implant site.  A popular thought with the machine fit implants is that bugs/ bacteria are able to live right at the implant/abutment junction and prevent bone adaptation.  The platform switch allows the junction to be more easily cleansed therefore allowing for better integration of bone in the area.  Two additional benefits are:

[Read more…] about Should I Platform Switch my Dental Implants? Three Reasons Why!

Filed Under: For the Doctor, For the Patient, For the Technician Tagged With: dental aesthetics, Dental Implants, esthetic dentistry, oral surgeon, periodontist, smile design

What is a Dental Implant?

May 23, 2017 by musfeldt

dental implants

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in the jawbone to replace a missing tooth’s root.  Dental implants allow patients to have teeth restored  without removing tooth structure from adjacent teeth.  Having an implant placed will typically help you prevent the loss of bone in the area.  Dental implants are placed sub-gingivally or beneath the tissue level. [Read more…] about What is a Dental Implant?

Filed Under: For the Patient Tagged With: Dental Implants

Smile Design Success Guide- 4 Must Knows

May 23, 2017 by musfeldt

While there are many things to consider when creating an incredible smile design, here are four topics the trio of dentist, technician and patient should have prior to any start of treatment. These will ultimately lead to a successful smile design and everyone smiling.

[Read more…] about Smile Design Success Guide- 4 Must Knows

Filed Under: For the Doctor Tagged With: cosmetic dental lab, cosmetic dentistry, lab communication, smile design

Top 10 Smile Design Considerations

May 23, 2017 by musfeldt

There are many factors to consider when creating a beautiful smile design.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a smile design definitely fits the saying.  These are universal principles, however a patients personal preferences will also need to be discussed prior to fabrication of the veneers or all porcelain crowns.  The top 10 smile design considerations are listed below, broken down into two segments, facial and dental components.

[Read more…] about Top 10 Smile Design Considerations

Filed Under: For the Doctor, For the Patient Tagged With: cosmetic dentistry, dentist communication, lab communication, smile design, smile design lab

What is a Dental Crown?

May 22, 2017 by musfeldt

A dental crown is a precisely fabricated tooth shaped device, typically made of porcelain, designed to restore a prepped tooth to its natural form.  It can improve the shape, size, strength, color and function once cemented.  Crowns are most typically recommended due to excessive decay or fractures to the existing tooth. Crowns can be made from various materials including but not limited to: gold, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, and lithium disilicate.

TIP:  Once it is determined you need a crown discuss the pros and cons of materials with your dentist. Ex: strength, necessary reduction of tooth structure and esthetics

Filed Under: For the Patient Tagged With: Dental Crowns

Anterior Prep Design

May 22, 2017 by musfeldt

One of the most common questions I’m asked as a dental technician is “What type of prep do you like best?”. The answer however is not an easy one. There are so many variables that play in to how an anterior tooth is prepped, such as, is it a rotated tooth, proclined or retroclined tooth or a root canalled tooth? Other important factors are is it a crown or veneer and what is the material selection? We will deal with each one of these eventually but for today we will focus on the ideally placed, small crack or decayed tooth that needs replaced. I will walk you through my preferences for both a crown and veneer.

[Read more…] about Anterior Prep Design

Filed Under: For the Technician Tagged With: Crown, Veneer

Posterior Prep Design

May 22, 2017 by musfeldt

One of the most common questions I’m asked as a dental technician is “What is the perfect prep?”. The answer for a posterior is relatively the same for me, regardless of material, other than a full gold crown which will allow for less reduction. For the best result I recommend the following parameters for reduction:

[Read more…] about Posterior Prep Design

Filed Under: For the Technician Tagged With: Tooth Prep

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About Us

Hello, my name is Luke Musfeldt and I've been involved in the dental technology field for over thirty years. I got started at the early age of thirteen helping my mother out on the … Read More about About Us

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