Dr. Rareș Nica

I was drawn to prosthodontics because it is the specialty that views the oral cavity as a whole and undertakes its complete rehabilitation. You do not treat a single tooth in isolation; instead, you consider function, occlusion, aesthetics, and long-term stability as an integrated system, often acting as the one who synthesizes the work of other specialties into a cohesive final result. Moreover, the outcomes are tangible—both for me and, above all, for the patient. The ability to follow a case from the planning stage through to the final restoration, and to actually see the difference it makes, was and remains the primary reason I chose this path.

A truly well-executed prosthetic restoration is one that restores function to a level as close as possible to the natural state while remaining invisible. The patient should be able to eat, speak, and smile without feeling the presence of a foreign object, and others should not be able to tell that a restoration is there. For me, the greatest compliment is not "what a beautiful restoration," but rather the fact that no one notices anything—the teeth simply look and behave like natural teeth. To achieve this, the restoration must be correct in every aspect simultaneously: precise fit, balanced occlusion, integration with surrounding tissues, and a shape, color, and texture that blend seamlessly with the natural teeth.

This balance is not found at the end; rather, it is built from the very beginning, prior to any irreversible intervention. Function is the foundation—a restoration must first work correctly—and aesthetics are built upon that foundation, not in opposition to it. I incorporate the patient's expectations into the process as early as possible through a consultation where we present concrete options for their specific case, outlining the advantages and limitations of each. We then move from words to visuals: a digital preview of the result, a wax-up on the model, and a mock-up directly in the mouth, allowing the patient to see and feel what the final restoration will look like before it is even created. In this way, expectations cease to be an unknown factor discovered only at the end; instead, they become a starting point that we refine together until the patient's desires and medically sound practice align.

The natural look of a dental restoration lies in a combination of details that no one consciously notices, yet everyone immediately senses when they are missing. A natural tooth is not uniformly white; it features shifting shades from base to tip, slight translucency at the edge, and subtle variations that give it a lifelike quality. A successful restoration replicates precisely this, rather than imposing a perfect white—which is usually the first sign that something looks unnatural. Shape and texture also matter: real teeth are neither perfectly smooth nor identical, and the way their surfaces reflect light makes the difference between a smile that looks "too perfect" and one that looks simply like your own. It is equally important for the restoration to blend harmoniously with the gum line, creating the impression that the tooth is emerging from the gum rather than merely sitting on top of it. Other key factors include how the teeth relate to the lips when you smile or speak, the preservation—rather than elimination—of the slight asymmetries found in any natural smile, and, of course, the choice of the right material for each specific situation.

Patient involvement begins with a simple question I ask right at the start: what does the patient want, and what are their expectations regarding the treatment? I don’t base my approach on what I think they *should* want, but rather on what they tell me; only then do we build the plan together. Whenever possible, I propose multiple treatment options—outlining what each entails, along with its advantages and limitations—so that the decision becomes a genuine choice rather than simply accepting the only option presented. Communication doesn’t stop after the initial consultation; we discuss every stage, I explain the next steps and the reasons behind them, and I ensure the patient knows exactly where we stand and where we are headed at all times. A patient who understands what is happening is a patient who feels at ease, trusts the process, and stays engaged—and ultimately, that is reflected in the results.

The most complex aspect is usually not any specific procedure, but rather what happens before and between the procedures: planning and coordination. Rebuilding a smile is rarely a single intervention; more often, it involves a long-term treatment with multiple stages and the involvement of various specialists—such as surgeons, implantologists, and periodontists, and sometimes orthodontists or endodontists. Everything must be conceived from the start with the final result in mind and then built in reverse: determining what needs to be in place at each stage to make the next one possible. The sequence of steps matters—each depends on the preceding one—and over the course of several months, everyone involved must work according to the same plan and toward the same goal. My role is to maintain this big-picture perspective from the initial consultation to the final restoration, ensuring the patient feels they are following a coherent journey rather than undergoing a series of disjointed procedures.

Collaboration plays an essential role—perhaps more so in prosthodontics than in any other specialty—because the outcome never depends on just one person. The first partnership is with the laboratory: the dental technician is, in effect, the co-author of every restoration. I provide the clinical data, the treatment plan, photographs, digital files, and the shade selected with the patient; the technician transforms all of this into an object that must both look and function like a natural tooth. Without constant, precise communication between us, the final restoration cannot meet expectations, regardless of how excellent the clinical preparation may be.

The second partnership involves the interdisciplinary team: the surgeon who prepares the site and places the implants, the periodontist who manages gum and bone health, and the orthodontist who aligns the teeth correctly prior to rehabilitation. Each specialist contributes a vital component; without it, the prosthetic restoration would lack the necessary foundation. For the patient, the advantage is not having to coordinate between specialists: we communicate with one another and work according to a unified plan, while the patient sees a single, cohesive result.

The moment we complete the case and the patient sees the result. After weeks or months of planning, various stages, and fittings, everything culminates in just a few seconds: the restoration is in place, the patient looks in the mirror, and their reaction says it all. That burst of enthusiasm—sometimes vocal, other times just a broad, irrepressible smile—marks the moment when what we discussed during the initial consultation becomes reality. For me, this is the point where all the hard work finds its meaning. It is not just because the work turned out well, but because standing before me is no longer just a "case," but a person who eats, speaks, and smiles differently than when they first walked through the door. It is the reason I do this job, and what makes me look forward to the next case with the same energy.

First of all, energy. Time spent in nature allows me to disconnect from the pace of the dental practice and return with a clear mind. Then, nature is the best teacher of aesthetics I have: nothing in it is perfectly symmetrical, uniform, or "too clean," yet everything seems to be exactly where it belongs. It is precisely this kind of beauty—with the small imperfections that make things feel alive—that I strive to recreate in my prosthetic work. And, last but not least, I bring with me a certain sense of tranquility: the patience to let each stage take its natural course, and the calm that the patient feels the moment they step into the practice.