Achieving quality esthetic dentistry and integrated comprehensive care with new generation techniques and materials.

BACKGROUND: Prosthodontics is the dental specialty responsible for diagnosis, rehabilitation and maintenance of patients with complex clinical conditions involving missing or deficient teeth and/or craniofacial tissues. The essence of the specialty is expert treatment planning. OVERVIEW/LITERATURE REVIEWED: In recent years, new approaches and technology have been introduced as a result of research performed in universities and by industry. The field of prosthodontics continues to evolve owing to a better understanding of the biology of the oral cavity and the introduction of new techniques and improved biomaterials. Improvements in periodontal and oral surgical techniques, implant procedures and materials, esthetic restorative materials, and jaw tracking recorders and articulators have led to enhanced functional and esthetic oral and maxillofacial prostheses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The complexities of today's technical and clinical procedures and the higher expectations for more esthetically pleasing dentistry by the general patient population have placed a premium on teamwork involving general dentists, specialists and dental technicians.