TEACHING PECULIARITIES OF FACIAL EXAMINATION AND COMPLETE DENTURE FABRICATION IN DENTAL EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND CLINICAL RESIDENTS

Esthetic restorations are essential to success in modern dentistry. Unfortunately, assessing the patient's aesthetic expectations and aesthetic prognosis during the initial evaluation can be problematic. A thorough facial research, involving collaboration with the patient, is an important element in the premedical protocol. It is very important to present the importance of facial contours and their change during tooth restoration to students and clinical residents of the Faculty of Dentistry. Identification of midline asymmetries, lip disharmony, excessive visibility of prosthetic abutments, as well as facial shape, vertical/horizontal relationships of residual caries affect both treatment modality and prognosis. Assessment of these esthetic factors by the dentist and the patient prior to initiation of treatment is best accomplished by clinical photography.