Case Study: It’s Never Too Late for a Healthy, Beautiful Smile
Has life simply gotten in the way of your oral health? Too many things to think about and not enough time for you?
Worried that your smile is too far gone, or that it’s too late to make a big change?
This is a problem all too often faced by many people.
Well, it may be a cliche, but it’s never too late!
Janet is the perfect example of this, with many years of embarrassment and a lack of confidence in her smile.
“People used to think I was angry or rude, but I was just too embarrassed to smile.”
Coming from a large family and being devoted to her own family left Janet with very little time, effort, and funds for anything other than the essentials.
However, with major changes in her situation, Janet decided to take the plunge and finally do something about her smile.
“Some people jump out of airplanes – I’m getting my teeth fixed.”
This is how we used cosmetic dentistry to help Janet regain her confidence to smile and achieve her lifetime ambition to “fix her teeth.”
Problems
Janet’s problems had built up over many years and were not limited to the physical aspects of her oral health.
Discolored, chipped, and uneven teeth made Janet extremely self-conscious about the unhealthy appearance of her smile.
Janet’s personalized treatment plan
Once Dr. Volker had met with Janet, carried out preliminary exams, and discussed her wishes, they decided on a reasonably straightforward treatment plan.
The most important outcome was the need for improved confidence to smile. So, our goal included the following:
What are veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shells attached to the front of your teeth to improve their appearance. They’re often made from porcelain or composite resin material and permanently bonded to your teeth.
Veneers can treat several cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, or discolored teeth.
How long do veneers take?
The porcelain veneer process takes around three weeks, from consultation to final placement.
After your initial consultation, your temporary veneers will be made in our cosmetic lab.
Then, after your teeth are prepared, your custom veneers will be fabricated.
Your final visit will be to bond your custom veneers to your natural teeth.
We make every effort to provide the best service for you and your smile. That is why our veneer service includes the following:
- Imaging technology
- Custom-made veneers
- Expertise
- Affordability
One of the more emotional aspects of the entire procedure with Janet was the initial “Try-in” stage.
Try-ins are designed to verify that the color of the final restorations is acceptable. This final esthetic result is a blending of the color of the porcelain veneer and the underlying tooth structure.
This try-in stage is not the absolute final color but is a great indication of the intended look.
The sudden change in the mirror for Janet was almost overwhelming.
Given the amount of time Janet had waited for such change, there was hardly a dry eye in the office.
To discover more about veneers, click here.
What is a CEREC same-day crown?
A CEREC same-day crown is a dental crown created using computer-aided design and machining (CAD-CAM) technology.
The advanced technology allows us to design, create and fit your new crown in our office in a single appointment, rather than the traditional method of taking an impression and sending it to a dental lab to make the crown.
CEREC crowns are made of a type of dental ceramic material that is tooth-colored and can be matched to the color of the surrounding teeth. They can be used to restore damaged or decayed teeth and improve the appearance of discolored or misshapen teeth.
Same-day crowns have a variety of benefits to consider:
Save time and money
No need for the inconvenience of additional visits!
Perfect fit and comfort
Traditional impressions are replaced with new digital imaging techniques, which allow for perfect designs. Plus, digital imaging makes your crowns more comfortable in the long term.
No temporaries
“Same-Day” means you leave the office with your new smile in a single appointment.
Natural looking
Your new crown is precisely color-matched to your natural teeth, meaning others won’t be able to distinguish them from the rest of your smile.
Strong
Ceramic crowns are designed to last for years, especially with proper maintenance.
To discover more about our CEREC same-day crowns service, click here.
A completed smile
Our staff feels we have been on the same emotional journey as Janet, working from discovery to realization to a completed smile.
Janet is proof that age is just a number and that attitude is important when it comes to cosmetic dentistry.
“I have to learn to smile. I have spent my life hiding.”
Janet used to shy away from family gatherings and having her photo taken. Now she is proud of her smile and enjoys the experience.
Janet could celebrate her birthday for the first time with her newfound confidence.
Or contact us by:
- Phone: 316-722-8148
- Email: info@smileconnectionsdental.com
Our dental office in Wichita, KS…Get directions in a new window… proudly serves its neighboring communities, including Eastborough, Oaklawn-Sunview, Maize, Bel Aire, Park City, Goddard, Andale, Colwich, Clearwater, and Andover, KS.
