Dental care at eye level

That is a long story (laughs). It started many years ago at the age of eleven when I had a sports accident. At that time, my broken incisors were restored with metal-ceramic crowns. Even then, I didn't like the esthetics at all. The gums around the crowns were constantly irritated and inflamed. I was afraid to laugh, and when I ate, it frequently hurt. After a few years, the discomfort became worse, so my upper jaw was restored with a long-span bridge construction. But even with this new restoration, the same problems remained, which is why all the teeth in my upper jaw eventually had to be extracted. In my lower jaw, I had never had any major problems.

I was really at a loss and frustrated. Then one day I saw an ad that the Kleinsman/Varzideh Dental Center in Germany was offering free consultation appointments. Even though Rheine was an hour away from me by car, I didn't hesitate and made an appointment. I had nothing to lose. Once I was there, they suggested restoring my upper jaw with a removable denture on four implants to give me the appearance and comfort that would finally meet my wishes. I wanted security and stability when laughing, and to bite off and chew without worry. The four implants made it possible to leave the palate exposed. However, it would still take another year and a half before I could smile with VITAPAN EXCELL.

I was immediately thrilled with the final prosthesis and still am today. The whole thing was a rejuvenating experience for me. We had looked at the teeth together beforehand. I immediately liked the shape and color of the VITAPAN EXCELL teeth that were selected. When I had the new prosthesis in my mouth, it was such a huge improvement from one moment to the next compared to the temporary prosthesis. The teeth looked absolutely real and now finally matched my appearance and my age. The natural surface of the teeth made me feel like I finally had my own teeth back. Eating was no longer any problem. I could even bite into a hard apple and eat spare ribs without any limitation (laughs).

The Kleinsman / Varzideh Dental Center in Bocholt has always been a place where quality meets dental knowledge. The head dentist, Dr. Babak Varzideh, has been solving complex dental cases there with his dental team for many years and continues to set new standards. The motto "The Art of Smile" has become part of their everyday work. Their secret to success is the symbiotic working relationship between the seven dentists and the 13 dental technicians, who always treat each other as peers and maintain a close dialogue to provide optimal care in every situation. It goes without saying that the quality standards for the dental materials used are also high for everyone involved. In the following interview, Varzideh explains why he relies on the VITAPAN EXCELL Anterior prefabricated teeth and the VITAPAN LINGOFORM Posterior teeth in removable implant prosthetics (both VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany).

Dr. Babak Varzideh: To be honest, it was not my decision at all (laughs). The dentists at our Dental Center maintain a very close professional, indeed one could say symbiotic, relationship with our dental technicians. That is why I completely trusted in the judgment of our laboratory when choosing the prefabricated teeth. After all, they are the ones who work with the materials and know from experience what works well and meets our high esthetic standards. That is why the choice of VITAPAN EXCELL for implant prosthetics was never up for debate, as far as I was concerned. 

Varzideh: As I said, using VITAPAN EXCELL was a conscious decision by our laboratory. The large selection of shades and shapes was certainly also a decisive criterion. Prefabricated teeth that fit the individual patient must be available. After all, this is the only way for patients to feel comfortable in the long term. I do the case planning together with the dental technician in charge. Based on this, a mock-up is created to define and discuss the design elements and the esthetics. So far, the VITAPAN EXCELL range has always been able to handle this target situation.     

Varzideh: I rate the esthetics of VITAPAN EXCELL very highly. We wouldn't use this prefabricated tooth if that weren't true. It looks absolutely natural in the patient's mouth. And most importantly, our patients are thrilled with the prefabricated tooth, and – as in the case shown – often look many years younger with VITAPAN EXCELL than they did before. According to my observations, the shade of the teeth remains stable over time and does not show any tendency to discolor. The teeth are homogeneously polymerized and can be ground and polished easily. It's a good product, as it should be. 

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Carolin Wehning (Dorsten, Germany) has made this quote from the physicist Albert Einstein her guiding principle in dental technology. And her insane dedication to individual dental restorations pays off: In their daily work, practitioners describe her as very conscientious, precise, clean and above all, passionate. In short, she is dedicated to dental perfectionism and gives her best in every case. It is clear that she wants the dental-technical team to work together as equals and maintain the closest possible contact with patients She knows that this is the only way dental technicians can realize their full potential and optimally meet individual patient requirements. In the following interview, the technician reveals the role played by VITAPAN EXCELL in implementing incredibly beautiful, patient-specific implant prosthetics. 

Dental Technician Carolin Wehning: I would say from my practical experience in everyday laboratory work: It's noticeable. Because VITAPAN EXCELL makes a really good impression during processing. The composite material does not smear during grinding, can be removed and adjusted well and evenly. This is likely due to the balanced hardness and homogeneity of the prefabricated teeth. The cutter also does not get stuck or entangled anywhere. That means I always have control when grinding in and never accidentally remove too much material.

Wehning: In this and many other cases, I have repeatedly noticed that VITAPAN EXCELL remains true to color even with a very thin layer thickness. The prefabricated tooth is therefore very advantageous where space is limited, as in this bridgework and other combination work. In addition, VITAPAN EXCELL allows individual, shade-matched adjustments to be made at any time with the veneering composite VITA VM LC flow or the cold-curing polymer VITA VM CC, without any transitions being noticeable.

Wehning: The coordinated proportions and the variety of shapes and shades of VITAPAN EXCELL offer several advantages: So far, I have found the right set for every clinical situation. The anterior sets generally look very natural and not too playful, which is why they can also be used very well for teaching purposes. Of course, thanks to the golden proportions, the functional aspects are also easier to implement. Due to the natural alignment of the axes, VITAPAN EXCELL has a very harmonious effect when used together. 

Wehning: VITAPAN EXCELL and VITAPAN LINGOFORM coordinate well together. The shade effect and gradient are precisely coordinated with one another. The morphology and surface texture also match perfectly. Both sets of teeth are uncomplicated and can be used by anyone. The occlusal surface design of VITAPAN LINGOFORM is multifunctional and suitable for all conventional prosthetic concepts. The occlusal surfaces are well defined, the centric occlusion is quickly found and major grinding measures are usually not required.