Three-Dimensional (3D) Facially Driven Workflow for Anterior Ridge Defect Evaluation: A Treatment Concept

The esthetic rehabilitation of anterior ridge defects and achieving patient satisfaction have become major clinical challenges for dentists and technicians. Poor diagnosis and treatment planning are frequently associated with multiple surgical procedures that fail to meet patient expectations. The loss of hard and soft tissues in anterior ridges results in an esthetically compromised zone that affects the rehabilitation prognosis. The presence of interdental papilla and papillary configuration play a decisive role in patient satisfaction. A treatment plan considering esthetic parameters, prosthetic needs, and morphological defects must be used to improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to propose a treatment concept for anterior ridge defects that focuses on digital evaluation systems and is guided by an ideal facially driven smile design project. In addition, the relevance of the papilla for esthetic outcomes and treatment alternatives for anterior ridge defects are also addressed.