I’ve been meaning to work on my publications for a while but was occupied with my GAMSAT studies, plus the establishment and stabilisation of my new business - Smile Virtuoso, in Pyrmont, NSW. It’s been a year and a half since I updated my blog posts, and now I finally have an opportunity to work on some exciting projects to share and be published in 2023! I want to kick off the blog post in this Before and After section, titled...
Continue reading
Labline featured Yugo’s article for the ‘ACADEMY’ in 2016 (originally published in English and Hungarian). There is a story behind every article I’ve created, and I cherish every single one of them. However, this particular piece is a standout because it compiles my philosophy into a single work. The contents include: Dental Material Selections The Aesthetic Articulator Digital Dental Photography Shade Taking and Smile Design Consultation I felt that the missing link in Dentistry was the communication between the clinicians and technicians with...
Continue reading
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. ‘In science, we must be interested in things, not in persons.’ – Marie Curie ‘One must divide one’s time between politics and equations. But our equations are much more important to me.’...
Continue reading
QDT featured Yugo’s article in 2016 (originally published in Japanese). Having trained as a dental technician in Japan (at Osaka University Dental Hospital), being featured in the ‘masterpiece’ section of QDT is an honourable achievement. It is a privileged benchmark that the high-end ceramists in Japan aspire for recognition and respect within the field. The actual storyline of the article is very similar to my previous post presenting the Aesthetic Articulator (https://smilevirtuoso.com/the-aesthetic-articulator-australian-patent-au2013100527/). However, the aesthetics of the presented case/restorations are probably the best I...
Continue reading
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. ‘One religion is true to another.’ – Robert Burton ‘Religion to me has always been the wound, not the bandage.’ – Dennis Potter ‘So long as man remains free he strives for...
Continue reading
The International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry featured Yugo’s article titled 'Extreme Masking: Achieving Predictable Outcomes in Challenging Situations with Lithium Disilicate Restorations' in 2014 (originally published in English, German, Italian, Spanish and Greek). Aesthetically speaking, metal-free restorations are proven to be superior alternatives to traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restorations. However, one of the most significant challenges in metal-free dentistry is the reproduction of natural dentition without the influence of a ‘negative stump’ – i.e., a very dark or metalcore showing through the final...
Continue reading
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. ‘All punishment is mischief: all punishment in itself is evil.’ - Jeremy Bentham ‘Hanging is too good for him, said Mr Cruelty.’ – John Bunyan ‘Punishment is not for revenge, but to...
Continue reading
Clinica: International Journal of Brazilian Dentistry featured Yugo's article titled 'Aesthetics of a Single Central Incisor with Soft Tissue Management' in 2014 (originally published in Portuguese). Meeting patients’ expectations is our goal regardless of the types of cases we treat. An ‘aesthetically pleasing outcome’ is ultimately judged by the patient. Without their satisfaction, the case should be considered unsuccessful even though there might be no fault with the outcome in the dental professionals’ eyes. Regardless of who you are or where you are...
Continue reading
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. ‘Make poverty history.’ - Anonymous ‘Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.’ – James Baldwin ‘Come away; poverty’s catching.’ – Aphra Behn ‘Brother...
Continue reading
The American Journal of Esthetic Dentistry featured Yugo’s article titled 'Restorations of Two Implants using Custom Abutments and Transverse Screw-retained Zirconia Crowns' co-authored with Dr Andrew Chio (Melbourne, Australia) in 2012 (originally published in English). There is a myth that the popularity of cross-pin retained implant restorations exists in a specific geographical location – Melbourne, Australia. Cross-pinning uses a transverse screw to attach the restorations to an implant abutment when access for the abutment screw would compromise the aesthetics and structural integrity...
Continue reading
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. ‘The almighty dollar is the only object of worship.’ - Anonymous ‘Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.’ – Francis Bacon ‘We could have saved sixpence. We could have...
Continue reading
As a young technician over a decade ago, I searched for ways of mastering the refractory veneer technique to achieve the ultimate aesthetics. When I found the refractory die material for Zirconia, the 'aha moment' came to me, and the rest is the history. The presented technique remains how I fabricate the refractory veneers today, and it is beneficial for some instances with conservative/minimum preps. It was an honour to participate in a book chapter amongst prominent dental professionals and pioneers such...
Continue reading
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. ‘There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.’ – George Sanders ‘A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning.’ –...
Continue reading
The following essay is what I produced at the University of Sydney in the Education unit (EDUF 1018), describing my personal experiences of schooling with teachers. I received 92/100 (higher end of High Distinction) for this essay, which captures what made me who I am today and how I construct a thought process. It presents my journey that some might consider “extraordinary”. I have come a long way, beating some obstacles that I’ve encountered. Those challenging moments, however, significantly contributed to...
Continue reading
A Caucasian male patient in his youth was introduced to me upon a failure of the previous Maryland-Bridges on 13-11, 21-23. The restorations only lasted for a few months (done by another technician), and I couldn’t identify its cause or never given a specific reason by the treating clinician. In part 1 of the ‘missing tooth replacement’ (click here to read), I presented implant restorations in Zirconia with Ti interface abutment to replace the lateral incisors. For this case, I present more of...
Continue reading
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. ‘Everyman, I will go with thee, and be thy guide, in thy most need to go by thy side.’ - Anonymous ‘The fox knows many things – the hedgehog one big one.’...
Continue reading
QZ featured Yugo’s article titled ‘The Aesthetic Articulator (Australian Patent AU2013100527)’ in June 2015 (published language: German). Introduction: Contemporary dentistry is increasingly using digital technology to plan and communicate treatment, and, in many cases, to aid in its delivery. CAD/CAM technology is a prime example of how high tech can be melded into the dental laboratory’s workflow and, increasingly, the dental clinic. This once novel process is now commonplace throughout the mainstream dental community. Advancements in digital technology have also helped clinician and...
Continue reading
A Caucasian female patient in her 20s was introduced to me upon completion of extensive orthodontic treatment to create enough space to replace the missing laterals. It has been a long journey for the patient to get to the point having the implants on the laterals and hoping to achieve the smile that she never thought was possible. There were a few technical challenges that I encountered: the angulation of the screw channels colour matching with the surrounding natural dentition. 1: Today,...
Continue reading
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. ‘Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.’ – Helen Keller ‘A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have...
Continue reading
A Caucasian female patient in her 40s flew in from Switzerland and stayed in Sydney, Australia, over the Xmas break for the smile makeover. Her existing veneers were only done 4-5 years ago by another technician, and she was unhappy with them due to being over contoured. The treating clinician modified the shape clinically before sending the patient to my studio for a smile design consultation. Thus, her condition was close to ideal, and she was happy with them in general. My...
Continue reading
eLABORATE Magazine featured Yugo’s article titled ‘Ultimate Zirconia Coping Design: Understanding Aesthetics and Function’ in Sep/Oct 2012 (published language: English). Introduction: It has been a decade since Zirconia became available to the dental market, and it is now one of the premier alternatives to Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) restorations. There are always pros and cons in selecting any material, and dental professionals need to treat their chosen material properly to ensure the longevity of the restorations. One of the common issues facing Zirconia...
Continue reading
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 have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together...
Continue reading
A Caucasian female patient in her 30s visited me for a consultation with temporary restorations in the mouth. She had her first set of veneers, which was about 16 years old. She recently had Invisalign, but the teeth moved out of the alignment. She is also concerned about the root exposure and uneven gingival level. She had missing second premolars and wished to have a brighter smile, in fact, as bright as possible without making them look artificial. She commenced bleaching...
Continue reading
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. ‘Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing wroth knowing can be taught.’ – Oscar Wilde ‘Education is what survives when what has...
Continue reading
Digital photography provides good clinical evidence and is an essential communication tool for dental professionals and patients. Therefore, capturing correct information is critical when exchanging digital images. The quality of the captured images significantly reflects the quality of the final restorations. In an ideal scenario, the technician/ceramist should receive the necessary information from the treating clinician to perform to the best of their abilities, and provide the best possible outcome for their patients. The image captured by the treating clinician needs...
Continue reading
A female patient in her 50s was referred to me for a consultation, who literally got ‘hit by a bus’ in an accident. Multiple facial reconstruction and surgeries had been performed, yet she was dissatisfied with the dental work provided. After a lengthy discussion with the patient and the treating clinician, we decided to restore her brand-new smile with confidence by performing a full-mouth reconstruction. There were existing implant restorations from 12-22 – the right lateral incisor to the left lateral...
Continue reading
eLABORATE Magazine featured Yugo’s article titled ‘Unbreakable Zirconia Abutments: New Lava and NeoLink Zirconia Abutments’ in Jan/Feb 2010 (published language: English). Introduction: Strength and aesthetics are foremost in the mind of today’s ceramist. The longevity of restorations has always been an essential factor. In the past, however, aesthetic compromises may have been tolerated, particularly in the posterior region. Thankfully today, achieving a lasting, highly aesthetic result technically has become far more accessible due to the development of new technology and materials. In the...
Continue reading
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. ‘Nothing in his life became him like leaving it.’ – William Shakespeare ‘It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not importance, it lasts...
Continue reading
A Caucasian female patient in her 20s was just about to get married and wanted to look the best. She was missing laterals with vampire-like fangs that bothered her. Because of the timeframe, orthodontic treatment was not an option. Since the teeth are all vital, we need to be conservative in prep generally, but the aggressive prep is necessary where required. Boding strength is another element we must consider. Thus, we decided to go with lithium disilicate (e.max) restorations – veneers...
Continue reading
A Middle Eastern female patient was concerned about her smile’s asymmetry, cased by the midline cant and shift with missing laterals. The lateralised canines are as wide as the central incisors, so the overall proportion needs improvement. It is not visible in the initial smile photo, but the patient has a gummy smile, which she would like to address simultaneously. When working on a case like this, initial planning is crucial to visualise the outcome from the beginning, and thus, diagnostic wax-up...
Continue reading
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. ‘Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes!’ – J.M. Barrie ‘None but the brave deserves the fair.’ – John Dryden ‘Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the...
Continue reading
An Asian patient in her 40s was depressed about the aesthetics of her smile. She had several attempts to replace the restorations to achieve natural aesthetics, which she found difficult. She was looking for “a durable, functional and, most of all, a beautiful smile” in her words. The treatment plan is to replace the existing restorations – 12-22 Screw-Retained Implant Bridge, and crowns on the canines - 13 and 23. To maintain the same property and material in the superstructure, we...
Continue reading
LVI Visions featured Yugo’s article titled ‘Reproducing Nature: Smile Design in 2008 (published language: English). Introduction: Today, creating a natural-looking smile is essential in cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry. As I mentioned in the first part of this article (European Journal of Eesthetic Dentistry Winter 2008), many people think that white “Hollywood Smiles” look fake but is it true? Have you thought about bleached natural dentition? I think it looks healthy and attractive but doesn’t look fake at all. That is the type of benchmark...
Continue reading
A Caucasian male patient in his 30s was deeply concerned about the aesthetics of his smile. There are several issues we had to address: most notably, changing the proportion and tooth size within the aesthetic zone, crown-lengthening/gum-contouring, and a replacement of a missing tooth on 14 (right first-premolar). We selected a Zirconia bridge on 15-13, and lithium disilicate (e.max) veneers for the rest – 12-26 (missing 25), from the right second-premolar to the left first-molar, a total of 10 units. I must...
Continue reading
A male patient in his 30s presented with the aesthetic concerns on the gummy smile and prominent hypocalcification on the central incisors. Hypocalcification is a condition where your tooth’s enamel has an insufficient amount of calcium. When this happens, the enamel still covers the tooth’s surface but parts can be thin and weak, giving teeth an opaque or chalky appearance. We decided to proceed with crown-lengthening, to begin with, and lithium disilicate (e.max) veneers on the central incisors for the better...
Continue reading
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. ‘Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soar.’ – Edmund Burke ‘I had rather be right than be President.’ – Henry Clay ‘All ambitions are lawful except those...
Continue reading
eLABORATE Magazine featured Yugo’s article titled ‘Reproducing Nature Part 3: Tooth replacement with root and colour matching using digital photos in 2006 (published language: English). Introduction: The technology available in dentistry in 2006 has improved significantly since I became a dental technician even though it’s been only eight years. Patients’ dental IQ and desires for beauty have also increased through exposure in the media. Thanks to the advancement of software such as Adobe Photoshop, we can now give patients a new smile digitally/virtually...
Continue reading
A female patient in her early 20s presented with congenitally missing upper lateral incisors, and one canine, a total of 3 teeth seeking a fixed replacement. The patient has a cleft lip and palate bilaterally, which has been treated several times over the years with surgery to repair it. Implants are not possible as there is no bone in the surgical repair sites, and in fact, she still has an oro-nasal communication. The patient had limited resources to pay for treatment and...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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,...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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: ...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading
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...
Continue reading