Abstract:

Objective： To explore a new method of whole-process digital esthetic prosthodontic rehabilitation combined with periodontic surgery for complicated anterior teeth esthetic defects accompanied by soft tissue morphology, to provide an alternative choice for solving this problem under the guidance of threedimensional (3D) printing digital dental model and surgical guide, thus completing periodontic surgery and digital esthetic rehabilitation of anterior teeth. Methods: In this study, 12 patients with complicated esthetic problems accompanied by soft tissue morphology in their anterior teeth were included. The dentition and facial images were obtained by intra-oral scanning and three-dimensional (3D) facial scanning and then calibrated. Two esthetic designs and prosthodontic outcome predictions were created by computer aided design /computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software combined with digital photography, including consideration of white esthetics and comprehensive consideration of pink-white esthe-tics. The predictive design of prostheses and the facial appearances of the two designs were evaluated by the patients. If the patients chose the design of comprehensive consideration of pink-white esthetics, they would choose whether they would receive periodontic surgery before esthetic rehabilitation. The dentition design cast of those who chose periodontic surgery would be 3D printed for the guide of periodontic surgery accordingly. Results: In light of the two digital designs based on intra-oral scanning, facing scanning and digital photography, the satisfaction rate of the patients was significantly higher for the comprehensive consideration of pinkwhite esthetic design (P<0.05) and more patients tended to choose priodontic surgery before esthetic rehabilitation. The 3D printed digital dental model and surgical guide provided significant instructions for periodontic surgery, and achieved success transfer from digital design to clinical application. The prostheses were fabricated by CAD/CAM, thus realizing the whole-process digi-tal esthetic rehabilitation. Conclusion: The new method for esthetic rehabilitation of complicated anterior teeth esthetic defects accompanied by soft tissue morphology, including patient-involved digital esthetic analysis, design, esthetic outcome prediction, 3D printing surgical guide for periodontic surgery and di-gital fabrication is a practical technology. This method is useful for improvement of clinical communication efficiency between doctorpatient, doctor-technician and doctors from different departments, and is conducive to multidisciplinary treatment of this complicated anterior teeth esthetic problem.

Key words: Computer-aided design, Digital, White esthetics, Pink-white esthetics, Periodontic surgery