Every masterpiece, no matter how beautiful, is influenced by its frame. The frame serves as the final touch to any piece of art, completing and enhancing it, thus presenting it to the audience in the most favorable manner. If the Mona Lisa were encased in an unattractive plastic frame,would it be perceived as beautiful? This analogy is equally applicable in the realm of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. While some practitioners concentrate on treating the teeth, they may inadvertently neglect the gingiva. However, both elements necessitate consideration to achieve an optimal aesthetic result.
Dr. Betsy Bakeman will explore this topic in depth at this year’s Minnesota Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry meeting on October 24, 2025. Dr. Bakeman maintains a full-time private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the Kois Centre in Seattle, Washington. She is the current President of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and a Past President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, where she is an Accredited Fellow of the AACD and serves as both an Accreditation and Fellowship Examiner.
Dr. Bakeman says, “Over the past few decades, aesthetics has increasingly motivated patients to seek treatment. Aesthetics is also the criteria by which many patients evaluate treatment outcomes. Practitioners with knowledge and a solid skillset with the restorative/periodontal interface are best positioned to satisfy patients’ increasing aesthetic demands.”
“Healthy, ideally located, and symmetrical gingival architecture enhances a beautiful smile. At a minimum, it is important to know where to place restorative margins to avoid exposed margins, open cervical embrasures, and inflamed gingival tissues. Then, the knowledge to optimize the symmetry and contours of free gingival margins takes any restorative result to the next level. The restorative dentist can consistently deliver highly aesthetic results with proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and some orthodontic and surgical training. Providing this standard of care allows the restorative dentist to improve diagnostic skills, maintain greater treatment control, and increase patient satisfaction.” This program will provide information that will be helpful for every dentist and dental technician in increasing treatment predictability and reducing stress.
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