Materials Science R&D

Figure 1: Patients with anterior esthetic concerns often control their smiles to reduce tooth display. By eliciting the uninhibited Duchenne smile, we were able to determine maximum tooth and gingival exposure. This evaluation revealed an average lip line, with about 2 mm of gingiva visible above the margin when the patient attempted a maximum smile. 

Figure 4: Combined, digital records enabled the design of a diagnostic prosthesis and precise implant planning — ensuring ideal positioning to support proper emergence profiles and restorative harmony.

Figure 5: I collaborated with Glidewell’s Digital Treatment Planning (DTP) team. This service provides significant value by coordinating both the surgical and restorative aspects of care. The team assists in planning the implant position, fabricating a surgical guide, and designing a provisional screw-retained crown (SRC). Each case is returned to the clinician with a detailed surgical report, along with a video recording of the 3D surgical plan for visualization and approval prior to the procedure.

Figure 6: A Glidewell HT^™ Implant was selected because its design is well-suited for immediate load situations due to its tapered body, sharp buttress threads, and self-tapping grooves. Its aggressive thread design promotes both placement efficiency and high primary stability — critical factors in the success of an immediate provisional restoration.

Figure 7: The Glidewell^™ Tooth Replacement Solution (GTRS) for this case included a customized surgical guide, a 3.5 x 13 mm Glidewell HT Implant and a provisional SRC for use on the day of surgery, as well as a scan body to be used during the impression appointment for the final restoration.

Figure 11: Once torqued into place, the stability of the implant was measured with a Penguin II device (Glidewell Direct), which uses resonance frequency analysis to quantify stability with an Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ). An ISQ reading of 75 exceeded the minimum threshold of 70 for single-unit immediate loading.

Figure 12: Following implant placement, a bone profiler was used to contour the crestal bone around the platform, creating a more favorable emergence profile.

Figure 13: Given the implant positioning required to achieve a screw-retained restoration, additional grafting was performed on the palatal aspect using an OsteoGen^® Plug (Glidewell Direct) to bulk out the ridge.

Figure 15: The patient was able to go home with a fixed provisional restoration that was out of occlusion.

Figure 16: The patient returned after three months for re-evaluation and final records. At the beginning of the visit, an intraoral scan was performed, including a scan of the provisional in place, the opposing arch, and occlusion.

Figure 17: Shade mapping and supplemental photography were captured to guide the final restoration.

Figure 20: The provisional was removed, revealing well-maintained soft tissue contours with a healthy gingival emergence profile.  

Figure 21: For the definitive restoration, the material of choice was BruxZir^® Fusion, which is a unique material developed by Glidewell’s Materials R&D department, that combines the advantages of two different BruxZir formulations. The restoration begins with an anatomically shaped core of BruxZir Full-Strength, providing strength, color, and depth. The core is then overlaid with a wraparound veneer of BruxZir Radiant, which lets light pass through incisal and interproximal surfaces.  The combination provides lifelike esthetics that are particularly compelling when used for single-tooth anterior restorations.

Figure 22: The patient was delighted with the transformation.