Do no harm. One of the most important doctrines, ever.
So if this philosophy is so important, why do so many dentist opt to cut teeth down to cap them for cosmetic reasons?
At Ideal Dentistry saving your teeth is our top priority. We do not cut teeth unless it is the absolute last resort.
Can you have a beautiful smile AND save your teeth? Most of the time YES!
Porcelain and composite veneers now can be placed over teeth, often requiring little to no tooth reduction.
You have heard of lumineers, Da Vinci Veneers and similar porcelain veneer products that tout “zero preparation” of the tooth. Well, yes, that may be the case, but it really is not the “material” that makes these products look good and work, it is the dental lab technician! One size really does not fit all. Ideal Dentistry only works with the finest dental technicians (we know each and every single one of our technicians by their name, not by their laboratory – no mass production labs for us!). All too often patients tell me their “friend” got veneers and they now have a “horse” smile…At Ideal Dentistry we only do horse smiles for horses 🙂
Daily I ask myself this question: “If the person in my chair were my daughter, son or wife, would I cut the tooth down or try to do something more conservative?”
And you know, the answer always is the same – be CONSERVATIVE.
I train all the doctors who work with Ideal Dentistry to follow this exact philosophy as well –Â save the tooth structure at all cost.
So, the next time you think about how great it would be to have a beautiful smile, come visit Ideal Dentistry, the tooth saving dental office!
Keep smiling!
Beautiful Porcelain Veneers are the key to a perfect smile, but until recently precious tooth structure had to be removed prior to placing veneers.
As modern dentistry has progressed, porcelain veneer systems such as Lumineers, Durathin, Pearls and many others were invented that are all able to create a beautiful smile without cutting teeth!
The problem now is mostly operator error – meaning, these zero tooth reduction veneer systems do not work for everyone. Case selection is critical. Using these veneer systems on the wrong case will simply make the teeth look big and bulky, and probably worse than they did before.
So how do you know if you are a candidate for these zero preparation veneers? Well, you will need an experienced cosmetic dentist that has done many of these cases, not someone who is just learning. And how do you know your dentist has the experience? Simple, ask to see actual cases, speak to patients who had the procedure done, ask about the lab technician they use – the technician, not the lab. Check for testimonials, reviews, and lastly but certainly not least, does the dentist have enthusiasm for what he/she does?
Keep Smiling.
Porcelain veneers, the best way to get the smile of your dreams, now available without sacrificing tooth structure!
Here is a recent smile I had the privilege of creating. This young lady has everything going for herself and now she has a smile that compliments her outgoing persona.
The beauty of such a veneer case is that her own tooth structure is still below these permanent porcelain veneers. We straightened her teeth with Invisalign so that we would not have to cut the tooth structure and then placed porcelain veneers that match her eyes! Yes, her eyes. Your smile is part of your whole face, and the color of your eyes need to match your teeth.
A smile makeover included more than just “teeth”. You need to look at the whole face, the lips, the eyes, the profile.
Keep smiling!
