METHODS OF INTEGRATING AESTHETIC REHABILITATION INTO THE TREATMENT PLAN OF ELDERLY PATIENTS

Dental aesthetics represents a synonym for modern, cutting edge dentistry as it is a simultaneous mixture of art and science. The materials and the technology nowadays provide the resources for achieving extremely accurate and physiognomic restorations regardless of the amplitude of the intervention needed; consequently the treatment must respect the oral health and the optimal functioning of the dental-maxillary apparatus. One of the treatment phases that precede the final result, one step ahead in the treatment, is represented by the temporary restoration. The purpose of the paper consists in assessing the importance of restoring a patient's facial aesthetics--a key element for treatment success, while going through the phases that precede the final result. The study includes 88 patients aged between 60-90 years (median age--75 years), treated at the Department of Oro-dental Diagnosis and Gerontostomatology, between January 2012 and December 2013. The patients requested the restoration of the functions affected by odontal coronary lesions, periodontal disease or edentation, malocclusion, cranial mandibular malrelations, and unsuccessful or deteriorated odontal or prosthetic treatments. Dental aesthetics implies a detailed assessment of each individual case because the long term success of the beautiful result achieved depends of the optimal state of health and functionality of the entire system. The final project in the cases studied was transformed into temporary restoration and afterward into permanent restoration. The use of temporary prosthesis within the treatment plan is important for the patient as it contributes at maintaining his social life active and also at developing the correct techniques for providing the proper hygiene for the restored elements.