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Yugo’s creation as a student at Osaka University Dental Hospital (in 2000)

I am privileged to be able to make a living by helping people to love their smiles. I do this by providing prosthetic teeth for cosmetic purposes, including crowns, bridges and veneers, as well as implant-supported restorations. I am a dental technician and my job title is ‘master ceramist’, a term used for artists specialised in crowns and bridges who reproduce natural aesthetics by mimicking nature with unmatched skills and knowledge. I am often asked why I’ve chosen this career path, and I always state, ‘ I wanted to become a doctor and an artist at the same time since I was a kid, and being what I am now is a fusion of the two with harmony’.   My educational journey...

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Before and After 2009: Soft-Tissue Management at the Socket on Pontic Sites

A Caucasian male in his 70s had presented with failed roots on the lateral incisors (12 & 22). The patient was also concerned about the aesthetics of the overall smile, wanting to have a youthful look. We commenced the case with 2 x Zirconia bridges 13-11 & 21-23.   Fig 1 shows the pre-op condition. 12 and 22 were extracted, and the soft tissue was managed during the temporary stage by the treating prosthodontist. Fig 2 shows the remarkable state of the soft tissue recovery.   Communication in the shade taking is essential between the clinician and ceramist. The shade tab should be placed edge to edge position, as shown in Fig 3. Fig 4 shows the completed Lava zirconia bridges (13-11 & 21-23). Note...

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Yugo – the man behind Smile Virtuoso: Past – Present – Future

It’s been a while since I disappeared from the forefront of dental education. For the past decade, having a presence in social media has become the norm regardless of who you are. If you are not actively promoting yourself online, then apparently you don’t exist. I’m not on anything –Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok – except LinkedIn. I’m not a follower, and I only act according to my beliefs.   The saying ‘work until you no longer have to introduce yourself’ is something I’ve believed in and kept in mind since the start of my career. The hours I have spent at work as a dental technician/ceramist would easily exceed Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule (i.e., the time required to be decent at...

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Reproducing Nature Part 2: Blending into Natural Dentition

eLABORATE Magazine featured Yugo’s article titled ‘Reproducing Nature Part 2: Blending into natural dentition’ in May/June 2006 (published language: English).     Introduction:   Isn’t colour matching a restoration to nature one of the hardest things for all of us to achieve? To be able to reproduce the colour, there are so many factors we have to consider and get right. The value, chroma, hue, translucency, characterisation and even the surface anatomy and shine control of the tooth are all essential considerations.   However, from my perspective as a ceramist, we have to consider another crucial aspect – the background. The teeth in the mouth are always under the influence of the colour from the gum, and it is very easy for human eyes to make misjudgements...

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CORRECTION OF MIDLINE CANT WITH A SINGLE CENTRAL INCISOR

The primary objective of treating a single central incisor is to create a restoration that blends in with the surroundings. The two front teeth - upper central incisors -are the most dominant part of the smile, and they are used to determine the position and cant of a facial and dental midline. Studies suggest that the most important relationship to evaluate the aesthetics is the mediolateral inclination of the maxillary incisors. If the incisors are inclined by 2mm right or left, laypeople regard this as unesthetic.   Figs 1 & 2 show a trauma case with damaged right upper central incisor – 11. The assessment of the facial midline can only determine with a full-face photo; however, the images suggest enough to indicate...

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Morphology: Traditional Wax-up Technique for Anterior and Posterior Teeth

Advancement of CAD/CAM technology has been a game-changer for both dental clinicians and technicians. It provides consistency with natural anatomy and aesthetics in the production of dental prosthetics without the possessions of highly trained hands-on technical skills. Understanding the anatomy of natural dentition – morphology – in depth is, however, essential for all dental professionals. The traditional way of reproducing teeth in wax remains critical as a way of training because the knowledge and technique are utilised in the application of composite restorations, diagnostic wax-up, and better understanding in the aesthetics and functions. The following technique is what I presented at King’s College London for a postgraduate masters course in Prosthodontics and Aesthetics candidates, and was well received with high praises.   Model Preparation:   After...

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Ageing – A Paradigm Shift in Ageing (GAMSAT Essay Example)

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them. Your writing will be judged on the quality of your response to the theme, how well you organise and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself.   ‘I recently turned sixty. Practically a third of my life is over’ – Woody Allen   ‘With full-span lives having become the norm, people may need to learn how to be aged as they once had to learn how to be adult.’ – Ronald Blythe   ‘The man who works and is not bored is never old.’ – Pablo Casals   ‘Every man desires to live long: but no man would be old.’ – Jonathan...

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Introduction: GAMSAT Section 2 – Written Communication

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is undoubtedly one of the most challenging exams that any aspiring doctor will have to face in postgraduate medical or dental courses at the top universities in Australia, Ireland and the UK. GAMSAT evaluates the nature and extent of abilities and skills gained through prior experience and learning, including the mastery and use of basic science concepts and the acquisition of more general skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and writing.   GAMSAT consists of three components: Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities Section 2: Written Communication Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences   Section 2, the written communication component of the GAMSAT, assesses the ability to organise and express one’s thoughts logically and effectively. It is a...

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Before and After 2008: Welcoming my Inaugural Patient at Smile by Yugo

A Caucasian male in his 30s presented with a trauma case on the (patient’s) right central incisor (11) – had an accident while playing football. He was also concerned about the appearance of the (patient’s) right lateral incisor (12) – it appears too short and narrow in his words.   11 is a non-vital tooth with minor discolouration in the stump (c.f., Fig 1); thus, we selected a zirconia restoration. The opacity of Lava Zirconia was suitable for slight masking, and its aesthetic advantage in complex colour matching.   12 is a healthy, vital tooth clinically speaking (c.f., Fig 1), thus we required only a minor conservative prep to proceed with the refractory veneer. Additionally, bleaching was completed two weeks before the shade taking...

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Reproducing Nature Part 1: Understanding the Composition of Natural Dentition

Eminent peer-reviewed publication - European Journal of Esthetic Dentistry - featured Yugo’s inaugural international article titled ‘Reproducing Nature: Understanding the Composition of Natural Dentition’ in 2008 (published language: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Greek).   Abstract:   Ceramists may be able to produce excellent results, but none can improve on the natural dentition. Natural teeth are always the benchmark to which every ceramist should aspire. Becoming a better ceramist requires training and application, and one of the best ways of training is to copy natural dentition. The amount of information that can be gained just by examining natural teeth is enormous. Natural dentition is irregular, but it is also in proportion and perfectly balanced. By trying to reproduce natural teeth, the ceramist will appreciate...

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