Townie Book Review: It’s the Little Things Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD

Multiple anterior restorations can be a very rewarding service for both the dentist and patient. When the case is completed your patient may leave the office with renewed confidence and a glowing smile, or he/she will just be “satisfied.” The difference between these two outcomes is often very subtle. That little detail that changes the look of your case can affect your patient’s opinion of the final result.

Many times, when an extensive case is planned, the dentist will prepare a diagnostic wax-up to serve as a blueprint for the provisionals and a preview for the patient. How does the lab know what the patient wants? How can a patient really comprehend the variations that exist in tooth size and shape? The Smile Style Guide, by Lorin Berland, DDS and David L. Traub, DMD provides one method to answer these questions.

The concept behind this book is very simple. Your patient is guided through an easy three-step process to identify the kind of teeth they would like to have. With this information, the diagnostic wax-up and provisionals can be the most accurate marriage of your patient’s vision and what is possible in his/her mouth.

In the first step, the patient will select one of three cuspid shapes: flat, pointed or round. Incisor shape combination is next, and the book demonstrates six different combinations with each of the three cuspid shapes available in step one. Finally, step three allows the patient to determine their preference for relative lengths of the incisors. Every step in this selection process is beautifully illustrated with high-quality color photographs. There are a total of 18 different smile designs to evaluate.

Although computer imaging is the most current method of previewing a new smile, a book circumvents the training needed to efficiently operate one of these programs. If you have not embraced technology or digital photography in your practice and you would like to offer you patient a “preview” of what is possible, this book will be a wonderful addition to your consultation or reception area.

At a Glance
Smile Style Guide
By: Lorin Berland, DDS and David L Traub, DMD
Pages: 87 • Cost: $149
1-800-741-7966 or www.Digident.com