In this month's episode of EAO's Just Ask, prosthodontist Rudolf Fürhauser delves into the intricacies of assessing aesthetic outcomes in the anterior maxilla, focusing on the Pink Aesthetic Score (PES). With a career dedicated to restorations and a passion for advancing dental aesthetics, Rudolf brings his expertise to the conversation, explaining how this scoring system helps clinicians evaluate soft tissue outcomes following dental implant procedures.
The Pink Aesthetic Score, developed by Fürhauser in the 2000s, is a practical tool designed to assess the aesthetics of soft tissues around single-tooth implants. The score is based on seven key variables: the mesial and distal papillae, soft tissue margin levels, soft tissue contour, alveolar process, tissue colour, and texture. Each variable is graded from 0 to 2, resulting in a maximum score of 14. The key principle is that the result doesn't need to surpass natural tissue but should align closely with it.
Rudolf stresses the importance of accurate implant placement and provisional restorations in ensuring a successful aesthetic outcome. Immediate implant placement, along with careful soft tissue management using techniques like the "copy abutment" protocol, ensures better stability and colour match over time. He also shares case studies to demonstrate how the PES can track outcomes over several years, highlighting improvements in soft tissue colour and texture despite slight changes in the alveolar process.
Despite its focus on single implants, Rudolf acknowledges the potential for future adaptations, particularly for multiple implant cases. He also hints at the integration of AI to automate PES evaluations, which could transform the way aesthetic outcomes are tracked and compared globally. Ultimately, the PES is a vital tool for maintaining patient satisfaction and ensuring predictable results in anterior maxilla restorations.
For more insights, including how implant placement and soft tissue augmentation influence aesthetic outcomes, check out Rudolf’s work and the upcoming EAO Digital Days.