CLINICAL RESEARCH
they opt to employ; a trilaminar technique (enamel/DEC/dentin) for a simplex inter- pretation or a pentalaminar technique (Exo enamel/eso enamel/DEC/exo den- tin/eso dentin) for a complex one. The utilization of this knowledge in the clin- ical and technical restorative approach is to be described thoroughly in articles that will be published in future issues of this journal.
tion of the incident light. A highly tex- tured surface renders higher amounts of diffuse surface scattering, thus elevat- ing the perceived value, appearing to be more translucent. This is in contrast to a smooth surface, which would ex- hibit lesser amounts of diffuse surface scattering, thus demoting the perceived value, and appearing to be more trans- parent. The relative thickness of enamel dictates the proportional amount of dif- fuse subsurface scattering (quantita- tive), while the degree and postmatura- tion stage of the HAp crystals affects the type of photonic interaction (qualitative). Transparency, translucency and opacification are all visual representa- tions of the amount of light that is scat- tered and subsequently reflected to the observer by the microstructural features of a given substrate. Embracing the paradigm shift of thinking in terms of dy- namic light interactivity via the principle of scattering enables the clinician and technician to choose the level of sophis- tication within the stratification protocol
Conclusion
This article presented fundamental yet simplified photonic interactions with re- gards to the histoanatomic elements, ren- dering the final visual synthesis. It should be emphasized that a thorough under- standing of the light propagation within the coronal structures is a prerequisite in order to elucidate color and shade, however mastery of spatial distribution of the three-dimensional histoanatomic relationships is paramount in the quest for restorative dental emulation (Fig 18).
350 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC DENTISTRY VOLUME 9 • NUMBER 3 • AUTUMN 2014
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