Dr Ivan Raychev

02/05/2026

The spaces were asymmetric.
So the answer could not be symmetrical.

Not every aesthetic case starts from an ideal condition.

This patient presented with irregular anterior spacing related to a periodontal history. Orthodontics had been considered, but it was not a feasible part of the accepted treatment plan. The patient wanted a non-invasive, additive correction.

The mock-up made the real question visible:

not how to make every space equal,
but how to make the smile feel calm.

The digital design defined the incisal edge position, proximal proportions and palatal support.
A printed transparent index transferred the plan.

Composite was used additively.

Not to cover the teeth.
Not to erase the natural enamel.
Only to complete the rhythm, build contact and create a transition that could disappear.

Between the centrals, the contact was only part of the problem.
The papilla had to be respected too.

The radiograph helped evaluate the relationship between the interdental bone and the new contact point — and supported the expectation that the soft tissue could fill the space after rubber dam removal.

The final result is not symmetry.
It is a controlled edit.

Natural structure first.
Composite only where it helps.

Harmony, not symmetry.

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25/04/2026

Post-orthodontic refinement of tooth 11. Orthodontic treatment by .nellydilkova .

The treatment goal was limited but precise: to improve the shape of the central incisor and close the residual space next to the lateral incisor.

Direct composite was used additively, without replacing the natural character of the tooth.

Small correction.
Controlled shape.


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02/03/2026

After isolation, a conservative occluso‑proximal access was performed to expose the lesion. Infected (chromatic) dentin was removed, and the proximal margin/gingival seat were refined using KaVo SONICflex to achieve a stable, readable geometry. The peripheral enamel at the cavosurface margin was cleaned with aluminum oxide air abrasion (AquaCare) to improve substrate quality and margin definition. Because interproximal caries is clinically related to the contacting surface, the adjacent proximal surface was evaluated and debrided via the neighboring occluso‑proximal access until all demineralized enamel was eliminated. A sectional matrix was adapted to obtain gingival seal and correct contour prior to composite placement. Final finishing of the composite–tooth transition was performed with Profin tips to achieve a continuous, smooth, and cleansable interface.

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07/12/2025

This patient was referred after orthodontic treatment for final harmonisation of the smile with direct composite.

Even after alignment, we still had to deal with:
– uneven interdental spaces
– localised tooth wear
– a slightly tilted lateral incisor

With a strictly additive approach, the task was not to create a plastic ideal, but to refine what already exists – to let the smile feel more balanced without erasing its history.

I like to think of it through the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – the beauty of the imperfect and the incomplete. Our patients come with a history. The task is not to erase it, but to integrate it into a smile that feels natural and alive.

Clinical details
– minimal additive corrections with direct composite
– enamel shell first, then dentin build-up (IPS Empress Direct)
– open matrix technique for controlled proximal contacts
– shaping with a reciprocating handpiece tip
– polymerisation under glycerin gel to seal the surface

Perfection is an idea; what we actually work with is always a little imperfect – and therefore unique.

This case is part of my upcoming lecture “The Details” – a journey not to perfection, but towards it, one surface at a time.

….If you find the content interesting, you can follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/drivanraychev

08/11/2025

Direct additive rehabilitation of upper anterior wear.
The digital wax-up was transferred intraorally with a clear 3D-printed index using a single enamel opacity to set shape and length. A planned vestibular cut-back created space for controlled multi-opacity layering. Surface preparation included aluminum-oxide (Al₂O₃) micro-abrasion with AquaCare, followed by a universal adhesive to optimize composite-to-composite bonding. Character and surface texture were freehanded using Ivoclar Empress Direct (Dentin, Enamel, Trans Opal, Color). Small additive volumes—respecting and revealing the native enamel rather than covering it.

Materials: Ivoclar Empress Direct (Enamel, Dentin, Trans Opal, Color).
Prep: AquaCare Al₂O₃ micro-abrasion. Adhesive for preparing the cut composite: Adhese Universal.


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10/10/2025

Sometimes the smallest addition makes the biggest difference.
This case illustrates how carefully placed composite can close interdental spaces, restore proportion, and maintain periodontal health — all while preserving the natural beauty of the tooth.

The key lies in respecting the emergence profile: the composite never touches the gingiva, allowing it to remain calm and plaque-free even after four years in function.
What you see is harmony between material, biology, and precision.

It’s not about adding — it’s about revealing what was already there.

….If you find the content interesting, you can follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/drivanraychev

27/09/2025

Not every cavity is visible to the naked eye — and not every carious lesion causes symptoms.
This case illustrates how a seemingly intact fissure on a maxillary premolar concealed a deep carious cone dangerously close to the pulp.
A patient who never misses their regular check-ups shouldn’t end up needing root canal treatment because of a lesion that went unnoticed. Hidden caries like this remind us how crucial careful diagnostics and early intervention are.

….If you find the content interesting, you can follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/drivanraychev

25/08/2025

✨ Minimal intervention, maximum harmony.

A subtle asymmetry corrected through a fully additive-adhesive approach — no drilling, no enamel removal, no compromise.
By using a silicone key technique, a precise composite shell was built to restore balance between the central incisors.

🔹 No preparation
🔹 No sacrifice of natural tissues
🔹 Seamless optical integration

Sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest difference. 🦷✨

09/08/2025

07/08/2025

Ultraconservative additive restoration of a shortened maxillary central incisor.

No tooth structure was removed. No bevels were created. No phase preparation was performed.

The restoration was entirely additive, preserving 100% of the natural enamel.

A silicone key technique was employed to reproduce the palatal anatomy and incisal edge with precision. Proximal contacts were established using sectional matrices.

For the buccal buildup, a simplified two-shade layering approach was used to replicate the optical characteristics and texture of the adjacent incisor.

The transition between composite and natural enamel was rendered imperceptible without any tooth preparation.

In the final image, a digital overlay illustrates the minimal volume of composite used — precisely calibrated to restore length, form, and esthetic integration, while respecting the original anatomy.