Smile Makeovers: Variety of Options, From Subtle To Major
By Paul L. Ouellette, DDS, MS, ABO // February 21, 2013
DENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Every January most of us set our goals and resolutions for the New Year. Some of us sign up for the gym. We make promises to ourselves to improve our health.
Volunteering for community projects may be one of your resolutions. We all have great intentions, but sadly most of our resolutions have a tendency to be forgotten about after a few weeks.
While motivated early in the new year schedule a complete physical examination, elective cosmetic surgery, routine dental care and/or cosmetic dentistry. During the previous year we get so busy that we tend to postpone needed medical and dental treatments. A new year means a new outlook and needed motivation to make positive changes, especially to our smiles.
At the beginning of every year our family dental practice gears up for a flood of motivated patients. We always look forward to helping patients achieve optimal dental health, improving their smile aesthetics and also doing a few extreme smile makeovers.
An investment in a new smile pays many dividends. Getting a new job or job promotion plus meeting new friends are some of the benefits of a healthy great looking smile. Making the commitment to enhance your smile will also increase your self-confidence.
An investment in a new smile pays many dividends. Getting a new job or job promotion plus meeting new friends are some of the benefits of a healthy great looking smile. Making the commitment to enhance your smile will also increase your self-confidence.
There are a variety of options, from subtle to major, that you can do to increase the aesthetic appeal of your smile. Consider the following low tech and high tech cosmetic dental treatments for your “New Year Smile.”
Cleaning, Check-up & Whitening
Most dentists recommend cleaning and check-ups every six months. Start out the new year with a routine dental checkup and cleaning. You may also consider having your teeth whitened. There are several over-the-counter whitening products available at your local drug store.
These work fine for many cases, but you may consider professional whitening if you want quicker and the most dramatic result. Ask your dentist about Zoom whitening and/or customized bleaching trays. It is possible to lighten your teeth eight or more shades with these non-invasive procedures.
Invisalign Premier Provide
Invisalign is a high tech method of teeth straightening that utilizes a series of computer generated tooth aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each aligner is custom-made to fit your teeth precisely.
The series of aligners gently straighten your teeth without having to wear unsightly braces. Your dentist or orthodontist are trained and certified by Invisalign to become providers. Our practice has been providing Invisalign treatment since the year 2000 when the new technology was introduced to the public.
Snap On Smile
The Snap On Smile is a thin removable custom “Hollywood” smile made to fit comfortably over your teeth. It is not a permanent device, but it serves to give the patient confidence to smile.
It may be used as a temporary or provisional appliance to cover ugly misshapen teeth or recently placed implants during the healing phase of a smile makeover. It is an affordable temporary solution for a person that wants to save for future cosmetic dental work such as veneers, porcelain crowns, implant supported crowns and other permanent dental procedures.
Veneers
Veneers are a thin custom-made shell (like false finger nails) used to cover the front side of teeth.
They are used to mainly improve the aesthetics of a tooth or groups of teeth. They also help support and protect tooth surfaces. Some patients wear away the edges of their front teeth.
A veneer is a good solution for hiding worn unsightly teeth. Multiple veneers are used to hide dental spacing, to lengthen individual teeth and create beautiful proportional tooth form. Veneers will make crooked teeth appear white and straight.
Veneers are made of composite (plastic) or dental porcelain materials. Cosmetic dentists are able to provide the patient a computer generated treatment plan for their approval and then create the smile design using veneers.
LANAP and Laser Contouring
Periodontal disease affects 80 percent of the U.S. population. Most cases are mild to moderate and may not involve loss of bone or soft tissue attachment. Proper brushing, flossing and yearly (or every 3-6 month) routine dental check-ups are the best way to prevent periodontal problems.
If you have a gum problem that requires treatment ask your dentist or periodontist about the FDA approved high tech Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP).
Our family’s dental specialty practice has a LANAP certified dentist on staff. Check out the YouTube video that demonstrates how the laser seeks out and ablates the bad pigmented tissues leaving behind a sterilized periodontal environment. LANAP treatments are done in two or more visits. Hopeless teeth can be saved in many cases.
Gummy Smiles
Another periodontal condition is the “gummy smile.” Your dentist or periodontist can perform a painless “Smile Lift” or “Crown Lengthening” using the laser to contour the gums. The laser reduces the amount of gum tissue at the top of your upper teeth creating a more desirable appearance with proper proportions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul L. Ouellette, DDS, MS, ABO, is a board certified orthodontist who has practiced for more than 35 years. He received his college education and Bachelor of Science degree at Texas A&M University. He studied dentistry at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, Certificate of Orthodontic Specialty, and Masters Degree in Oral Biology. Dr. Ouellette has three Dental Specialist office locations in Brevard County, Florida, and can be reached at 800-76-SMILE, or e-mail 4BracesDrO@gmail.com
