Cara smile: Use of planning software to facilitate esthetic dental treatment in a case

Abstract

Treatment of the anterior teeth is challenging. Computer resources and software are available to facilitate a digital smile approach, thus allowing the dentist to plan and predict an esthetic result for a patient, particularly when an integrated multidisciplinary approach is necessary. Digital smile design has emerged as a tool in cosmetic dentistry that helps both professionals and the patient to visualize the result, in addition to facilitating a discussion between the two before establishing a final treatment decision. Here, we present a case involving a 27-year-old female who underwent multidisciplinary treatment initiated by digital planning using specific software, namely Cara Smile. The patient presented with complaints of maxillary tooth malalignment, staining, and fractures. To obtain the correct width-to-height ratio, a simulated gingival procedure was performed in the software. Gingivectomy was performed using digital simulation, and 90 days after surgery, cast and wax-up models maintaining the previously planned width-to-height ratio for the maxillary anterior teeth were made. Esthetic crowns and veneers were fabricated using the digital planning protocol. Therefore, Cara Smile is useful to facilitate the diagnosis through digital photos, improve communication between the various professionals involved in treatment, and guide the predictability of treatment and patient acceptance.

Keywords

• ceramic
• dental occlusion
• dental veneers esthetic dentistry
• periodontics