30 September 2025

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Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Predictable Restorative Outcomes

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The dilemma in comprehensive dentistry is that dentists are often focused on restoring teeth for esthetic outcomes, and if occlusion is not taken into account during diagnosis and treatment planning, the risk of failure of esthetic restorations is real. Successful indirect and direct restorative dentistry is predicated on performing critical risk assessments and accounting for the findings when treatment planning a case. Unfortunately, many dentists fall into common traps that could potentially result in ongoing breakdown and, ultimately, cosmetic and restorative dentistry failures (Figs 1 & 2). By properly establishing a stable occlusion using simple techniques and technologies, dentists can mitigate risk, reduce unproductive chair time, and increase patient satisfaction. This article provides a basic review of the principles of several essential diagnostic categories that are key to ensuring more predictable esthetic and functional outcomes, with an emphasis on avoiding common occlusal oversights.

Author: Albatish, Nada
Source: https://openurl.ebsco.com/