Interdisciplinary Collaboration of the Dental Technician, Restorative Dentist, and Periodontal Surgeon in the Treatment of a Complex Oral Rehabilitation

The concept of interdisciplinary collaboration for complex oral rehabilitations embodies precise communication among all members of the treatment team prior to initiating therapy. The present state of the art coupled with the increasing esthetic expectations of patients continually challenges the surgeon, restorative dentist, and laboratory technician. The unique knowledge, skills, and experiences that each member provides are of paramount importance in the evaluation and consultation phase. Precise duplication of the color, contour, and vitality of natural dentition may ultimately result in an esthetic failure if the optimal gingival profile is absent, functional occlusion is improper, or the basic tooth preparation design is ignored. In this article, the interdisciplinary approach is presented in the examination and treatment planning of a patient with a debilitated dentition requiring a complex oral rehabilitation. Analysis of the patient’s esthetic, functional, and structural problems from the prospective of the periodontist, prosthodontist, and laboratory technician with the specific treatment phases are shown.