Improving implant aesthetics: prosthetically generated papilla through tissue modeling with composite.

UNLABELLED Dental implants provide clinicians with a predictable means of replacing the function of lost natural teeth. Whereas innovative restorative materials and techniques have yielded predictable "white aesthetics" for a tooth, comparable success with the "pink aesthetics" of implant restorations has been more problematic. This article describes a technique for improving the aesthetic outcome of implant dentistry by contouring soft tissue around implants through a buildup of composite to a "UCLA-type" abutment. From this technique, it is believed that a similar procedure for other implant systems can be easily and successfully extrapolated. LEARNING OBJECTIVES This article discusses a technique that allows for implant placement in cases where the emergence profile has been compromised. Upon reading this article, the reader should: Understand why the pink aesthetics of the patient's smile are as important as the "white aesthetics". Learn how to contour the soft tissues surrounding implants.