Utilizing Digital Technology to Facilitate Dentofacial Integration

As digital technology evolves, an increasing number of tools are becoming available to improve team communication during the treatment planning and provision of restorative dentistry. The esthetic relationships among the face, teeth, and tissue can be analyzed using high-quality photographs, presentation software, and video capture, all critical elements for cases requiring digital dentofacial integration. Video capture communicates maximum lip movement and tooth reveal during speech with precision and ease. This article demonstrates predictable and successful use of these digital tools to enhance dentist-to-laboratory communication in an esthetically challenging case. In the age of digital dentistry, many protocols that clinicians have traditionally performed manually are being facilitated by newer, technologically advanced resources, making restorative procedures faster, simpler, and more dimensionally comprehensive. Use of video and presentation software is an effective method to communicate desired outcomes to the laboratory and allows the clinician to preoperatively plan the smile design and visualize treatment outcomes prior to treatment initiation.