Evolution of Aesthetic Dentistry

One of the main goals of dental treatment is to mimic teeth and design smiles in a most natural and aesthetic manner, based on the individual and specific needs of the patient. Possibilities to reach that goal have significantly improved over the last decade through new and specific treatment modalities, steadily enhanced and more aesthetic dental materials, and novel techniques and technologies. This article gives an overview of the evolution of aesthetic dentistry over the past 100 y from a historical point of view and highlights advances in the development of dental research and clinical interventions that have contributed the science and art of aesthetic dentistry. Among the most noteworthy advancements over the past decade are the establishment of universal aesthetic rules and guidelines based on the assessment of natural aesthetic parameters, anatomy, and physiognomy; the development of tooth whitening and advanced restorative as well as prosthetic materials and techniques, supported by the pioneering discovery of dental adhesion; the significant progress in orthodontics and periodontal as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery; and, most recently, the implementation of digital technologies in the 3-dimensional planning and realization of truly natural, individual, and aesthetic smiles. In the future, artificial intelligence and machine learning will likely lead to automation of aesthetic evaluation, smile design, and treatment-planning processes.