A unique feature of DSD as a company is that our services, training and workflows are all evidence based and we have authored, co-authored and contributed to numerous articles in clinical journals.
The article ‘The Facial Flow Concept: An organic orofacial analysis - the vertical component’ was co-authored by Christian Coachman and published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. In it, the authors set out a process of evaluation aimed at minimizing errors and producing harmoniously balanced smiles.
Below, Luken de Arbeloa, DSD Education Strategy Maestro specialized in prosthetics, implant prostheses and esthetic dentistry, answers three important questions to highlight the key takeaways you need to know about this article. Read on to discover his thoughts and to read the article in full online.
What is the most important thing a dentist should understand about this article?
Luken de Arbeloa:“That the definition of the facial midline (FM) is controversial. It is understanding the balance and proportion within the facial structure, and not defining the exact points which decide the midline of a face that is geometrically irregular, which may be the most important consideration.
There are new concepts and guidelines for comprehensive, organic facial analysis that can help clinicians to utilize systematic approaches more than artistic skills.
The choice of facial midline definition can have a significant influence on clinical decisions and ultimately result in different diagnoses and treatment plans.
Does this article link to any other papers that DSD has co-authored or other researchers have published?
Luken de Arbeloa: “Yes, it links to the following paper co-authored by Christian Coachman published in the International Journal of Periodontics Restorative Dentistry.”
Dynamic Documentation of the Smile and the 2D/3D Digital Smile Design Process
Coachman C, Calamita MA, Sesma N. Dynamic Documentation of the Smile and the 2D/3D Digital Smile Design Process. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2017 Mar/Apr;37(2):183-193. doi: 10.11607/prd.2911. PMID: 28196157.
You can see it here.
How does this knowledge influence how we teach at courses or our services at the DSD Planning Center?
Luken de Arbeloa: “One of the first steps when creating a smile design is to determine the horizontal position of our patient's face and define the facial midline.
At Digital Smile Design, we teach the principles of smile design, which includes the orofacial principles we need to analyze in order to define the ideal horizontal position of our patients' faces and the facial midline.
It is important to note that this is a highly subjective decision and achieving a harmonious result involves considering multiple variables to make the correct choices.
The designers at the DSD Planning Center have been carefully trained in video analysis and decision making to help them to create the most harmonious designs adapted to the hundreds of cases we receive every month from doctors around the world. This ensures that we can deliver results to a high standard which are approved by both clinicians and patients.”
In this new ‘Clinical Articles’ series we’ll be looking at clinical articles co-authored by Christian Coachman alongside other notable clinicians to highlight the topics we believe are relevant to dental professionals today.
The Facial Flow Concept: An organic orofacial analysis - the vertical component
Silva BP, Mahn E, Stanley K, Coachman C. The facial flow concept: An organic orofacial analysis-the vertical component. J Prosthet Dent. 2019 Feb;121(2):189-194. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2018.03.023. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30139676.
