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PUBLICATIONS

Australasian Dentist September-October 2025

Oct 20. 2025

If you’re a clinician striving to elevate your aesthetic outcomes or seeking a deeper understanding of the collaborative workflow between technician and dentist, this might interest you. Earlier in 2025, we shared a before-and-after case on the Smile Virtuoso blog that generated a great deal of interest —“The Zirconia Renaissance – Unlocking the Aesthetic Potential with Strength”. It documented not just the technical execution of a multi-unit aesthetic rehabilitation, but also the communication protocols and layered material strategies that helped exceed the patient’s expectations. This 5-page article has been accepted and published in the September–October issue of Australasian Dentist, a well-established clinical journal distributed throughout Australia and the Pacific region. The published version includes detailed case photography, functional insights, and a full...

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PUBLICATIONS

Smile Design 2.0: Merging Elite Tech with Clinical Artistry – making invisible visible, one smile at a time

Sep 21. 2025

Labline Magazine featured Yugo's article for the 'ACADEMY' section in Winter 2025 (originally published in English and Hungarian).   Smile design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about trust, communication, and predictability. Patients today arrive with higher expectations than ever before. Digital tools have made cosmetic dentistry more accessible, but they’ve also created a new challenge: how do we ensure clarity when clinicians, technicians, and patients all need to be aligned on the same vision? That’s where a structured approach to smile design becomes essential. When patients can see and understand each stage—initial consultation, temporary restorations, and the final review—the result is more than a beautiful smile: it’s confidence, reassurance, and shared decision-making. In my latest feature for Labline Magazine (Autumn 2025), I explore how a technician-led...

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BEFORE AND AFTER

Before and After 2024: The Zirconia Renaissance – Unlocking the Aesthetic Potential with Strength

Jun 29. 2025

In the ever-evolving world of metal-free aesthetic dentistry, material selection remains one of the most powerful—yet often under-examined—decisions we make as clinicians and ceramists. Since the inception of my inaugural business in 2008, Smile by Yugo, I’ve witnessed—and contributed to—a profound transformation in the materials we rely on to craft beauty and function alike. Over the years, we’ve transitioned from traditional feldspathic and refractory layering veneer techniques to pressed glass ceramics (e.g., Empress, Ivoclar Vivadent), exploring the potential of staining techniques in monolithic structures, then upgraded to lithium disilicate (e.g., e.max, Ivoclar Vivadent), and now, increasingly, toward the modern versatility of zirconia. That said, without ongoing engagement in continuing education, hands-on experimentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, it’s easy to default to familiar...

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PUBLICATIONS

Smile Bible: A Communication Tool Between Dental Clinicians and Technicians, Clinicians and Patients and Technicians and Patients

Sep 17. 2021

Labline Magazine featured Yugo’s article for the ‘ACADEMY’ section in Winter 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 our patients, and how to educate our patients through effective correspondence to make each treatment step transparent and visually assessable.   The clinical philosophy is the driving force, and the clinicians should remain the captains of the ship, no...

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PUBLICATIONS

Masterpiece – Visualisation with Precision: The Aesthetic Articulator

Sep 03. 2021

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 have ever presented from a technical perspective. The patient desired the highest level/degree of incisal translucency/characteristics, which mimics the complex nature of natural dentition. The outcome is so satisfying that even dental professionals cannot distinguish them from natural teeth.   When I design...

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PUBLICATIONS

The Aesthetic Articulator (Australian Patent AU2013100527)

Jun 04. 2021

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 technician to communicate more clearly and precisely to achieve better patient outcomes, and involve the technician in delivering care.   More and more, technology is also employed to help clinicians understand and deliver on patient expectations. Due to the increasing dental knowledge...

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BEFORE AND AFTER

Before and After 2015: Smile Makeover – Replacement of 2 Teeth on 1 Abutment with Pink Ceramics

Mar 12. 2021

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 on the central incisors and first-premolars, with joint crowns to replace the laterals and canines off one abutment for each quadrant.   Fig 1 shows the pre-op condition. When working a case like this, the communication between the clinician and technician is...

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BEFORE AND AFTER

Before and After 2014: Smile Makeover – Addressing Mid-line Cant and Proportion with Lateralised Canines

Mar 05. 2021

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 is a must. We have decided to idealise the gingival level by crown-lengthening/gum-contouring, to begin with, then lithium disilicate (e.max) veneers from 13-23, right upper canine to left upper canine, a total of 6 teeth.   Figs 1-4 show the pre-op condition. The...

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PERSONAL

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

Jan 01. 2021

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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