Dr Michael Cai Archives - Smile Virtuoso

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...

BEFORE AND AFTER

Before and After 2022: Smile Design 2.0 (Part 2) – Performing a Smile Makeover on Social Media Influencer

Jan 13. 2025

In Part 1 of ‘Smile Design 2.0’, I introduced my well-established standardised protocol for smile design, applied to a dental professional – often one of the most challenging types of patients due to their high dental IQ and elevated expectations. Treating fellow colleagues requires absolute precision and a deep understanding of the nuances within my specialties. In Part 2 of this blog series, I will again cover the essential requirements for digital photography and effective communication between dental professionals and patients, taking a consistent step-by-step approach. This time, however, my focus shifts to a social media influencer. The case presented here features an Asian female patient who shares her physical appearance and life experience on social media. Working with celebrity or influencer...

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...

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...