Functional versus aesthetic articulation of maxillary anterior restorations

The correct orientation of the master model is a frequently overlooked aspect of communication between the clinician and the ceramist. The master model must provide the ceramist with the same perspective of the patient as is seen by the clinician--facing the viewer. Unless precise information is transferred to the laboratory, the ceramist can only estimate horizontal and vertical alignment of the working cast from landmarks taken from the cast itself. It is unwise to leave such appraisal to chance, especially when restoring multiple anterior preparations, where the potential for misalignment of the cast increases with the number of restorations involved. The learning objective of this article is to discuss communication techniques between the clinician and the ceramist for achieving precise and predictable orientation in the treatment of aesthetic anterior restorations.