This patient has 3 front teeth that are porcelain crowns. We bet you can’t tell which teeth?
We like to show this case because it is perfect for showing the rules of what we are trying to do for every patient.
The Esthetic Rules:
- The front two upper teeth are mirror images
- The front two upper teeth are perpendicular with the horizon
- The front six upper teeth have a corresponding size relationship to each other
- The front teeth should be longer than wide
- The long axis of the front six upper teeth should be pointed towards the belly button
- The biting edges of the upper teeth should flow with lip
- The tissues of the canines and central incisors (front teeth) should be on the same line with the laterals slightly shorter
- Important to have good oral hygiene and healthy gingival tissues
The Functional Rules:
- Healthy TMJ’s with all teeth contacting evenly with joints correctly positioned
- The lower front teeth should be straight with the biting edges level with all the other lower teeth. This allows the teeth to hit evenly when the jaw moves forward.
- The Canines need to be hitting or positioned in a way so that when the patient moves their jaw from side to side the canines touch and all other teeth miss or disclude. The canines protect all of the other teeth and are considered the most important teeth in your mouth.
Case Completed:
- The patient had the canines hitting incorrectly causing wear on the lower teeth and on the left front tooth, which was positioned slightly towards the tongue.
- After treatment planning, crowns were placed on the left front tooth and the canines with different shapes to correct occlusion and esthetics.