Ten Steps to Create Virtual Smile Design Templates With Adobe Photoshop® CS6.

Computer design software has become a primary tool for communication among the dentist, patient, and ceramist. Virtual smile design can be carried out using various software programs, most of which use assorted forms of teeth templates that are made based on the concept of "golden proportion." Despite current advances in 3-dimensional imaging and smile designing, many clinicians still employ conventional design methods and analog (ie, man-made) mock-ups in assessing and establishing esthetic makeovers.

Custom anatomic healing abutments.

Dental implants with their increasing success rates and predictability of final outcome are fast becoming the treatment of choice for replacing missing teeth. Considering the success of immediate implant placement in reducing tissue loss and achieving good esthetic results, is making it a more popular treatment modality in implant dentistry. Understanding the management of gingival tissues in relation to implants to obtain maximum esthetics is of utmost importance.

Marginal fit and microleakage of cast and metal laser sintered copings--an in vitro study.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the marginal fit and microleakage of metal laser sintered Co-Cr alloy copings and conventional cast Ni-Cr alloy copings using a stereomicroscope.

Methods: Forty extracted maxillary premolars were randomly divided into two groups. One group was subjected to coping fabrication using conventional lost wax (LW) technique while the other group was subjected to coping fabrication using metal laser sintering (MLS) technology.