Dentist and Lab Communication: Key to better Restorations

Dental professionals must consider the health of surrounding soft tissues, reproduce the size, shape and surface texture of the adjacent teeth and select the proper shade and colour, which in and itself is a primary determination of clinical success. The parameters that define tooth color (hue, chroma value, translucency, opalescence and florescence's) are well known. The communication of this different parameter to the laboratory is difficult and requires the clinician and laboratory technician to use identical shade selection system in order to achieve optimal aesthetics. A Structural approach promotes communication and facilitates successful outcomes. The dentist must have knowledge of the basic principles of color. Along with the laboratory prescription, the technician should have a set of study models to use as a guide. With few exceptions, laboratory work authorizations do not request enough information from the dentist. This could be because there is not enough space on the prescription to record it. The parameters that define tooth color (hue, chroma value, translucency, opalescence and florescence's) are well known.In the practice of esthetic restorative dentistry, communication among the clinicians and laboratory technicians work as a team to restore both form and function of their patients. By using various communication aids between dentist-technician-patient, technician was better able to create an esthetics and successful restoration that address the patients need & desire.