Dr Ronaldo Hirata is an internationally recognised expert in restorative and aesthetic dentistry and has more than three decades of clinical, research and teaching experience. The author of several influential books on aesthetic dentistry, he is known for his emphasis on craftsmanship, individuality and meaningful patient connections. At the end of the month, he will be a featured speaker at the Congresso Internacional de Odontologia de São Paulo (CIOSP) in Brazil. Ahead of the event, he shares his reflections on the evolution of dentistry and the often unseen shifts that have shaped contemporary clinical practice in an interview with Dental Tribune International.