Health benefits of chocolate
and red wine are rediscovered
By SHARON ALMIRALL
As recently as 10 years ago, most people went to the dentist to get something fixed. Whether it was to repair a broken tooth, fill a cavity or replace a loose filling, the dentist’s office was little more than a repair shop for the mouth.
That’s all changed today. In addition to basic dental care and repair, many people are upping their smile power thanks to the advances in cosmetic dentistry techniques and services now available at your dentist’s office.
Although the American Dental Association recognizes no official specialty known as “cosmetic dentistry,” there are dentists who have the extensive training and experience necessary to help your smile go Hollywood. Two of the practitioners in Denver are Dr. Lee Amy Weisbard and Dr. Steven Schwan.
“My philosophy about all dental work is that it should not only look good but function well,” says Dr. Weisbard. “When someone comes to me and is unhappy with her smile, I sit down and discuss her expectations and goals. I can’t necessarily recreate the smile in a magazine photo, but I can work to give her a more beautiful smile based on her present tooth structure, function and shape.”
Dr. Schwan adds, “When a patient tells me he doesn’t like the way his teeth look, I explain that we need to create an overall plan for the entire mouth. It’s not just the front teeth that are affected, although they are the most visible. Grinding, malocclusion (irregular bite) and irregularly spaced teeth in the back all contribute to the look of the front teeth. If we don’t fix the underlying problems, all the cosmetic work up front won’t last.”The desire for a more beautiful smile crosses age and gender boundaries. Some people seek treatment because they are self-conscious; for others, irregularly shaped teeth may be holding them back personally and professionally. Although the majority of patients are between 20 and 50 years old, both dentists have worked on people in their 70s and 80s. “They’ll often ask me if they’re being silly. My reply is that if it’s important to you, and you can afford it, go for it,” says Dr. Schwan.
Both Dr. Weisbard and Dr. Schwan offer complimentary initial consultations for patients who are interested in having cosmetic work done. During these sessions, the dentists listen carefully to patient expectations to determine if they are realistic, given the current condition of his or her teeth.
“It’s also important to find out what a patient’s idea of beautiful teeth is,” explains Dr. Weisbard. “Not everyone wants the Miss America look. Some patients want uniformly sized, smaller teeth. I even had one patient who wanted one tooth to be slightly out of alignment so that it would look natural.”
After Dr. Schwan meets with a patient, he develops an overall plan using diagnostic study models, photos and measurements of the gum tissues. He’ll check to make sure the bite position is stable and then develop a plan that may include work on the back teeth to ensure that the cosmetic work in the front will last. In some instances, the structural and cosmetic work can be performed at the same time.
Both Dr. Weisbard and Dr. Schwan can take an ordinary smile and transform it into a beautiful one, using tools of the trade including veneers, crowns, bonding and whitening. The procedures chosen depend on the amount of work that needs to be done. Sometimes repairing a few chips makes a world of difference, and other times a more comprehensive treatment plan is required.
Below are some of the techniques they may use to help you show off those pearly whites:
• In bonding, the dentist uses a composite
material to repair small chips, fill in
cracks, cover stains, seal a cavity or patch
an exposed root surface. The composite
is matched to your natural tooth color,
making it virtually undetectable.
• Veneers are thin sheets of ceramic
that are bonded directly to your existing
teeth. They are used for filling out
misshapen teeth, making small alignment
adjustments and covering wornout
bonding. Good veneers are translucent
and are indistinguishable from
regular teeth when they are properly
placed. Veneers are among the least
time-consuming and easiest of the cosmetic
procedures available.
• Porcelain crowns, also known as
caps, are full covers for an existing
tooth. Teeth that have many fillings or
have broken down are good candidates
for crowns. Crowns can be metal or
metal-free; the metal-free are best for
front teeth as they have a natural, lifelike
appearance.
• Implants replace an entire tooth,
not just its cover. For the implant procedure,
the damaged tooth is removed
and a rod is placed in the jaw, where it
will fuse to the jawbone and act as a
root for a new tooth. Implants are permanent
attachments and function just
like normal teeth. Dr. Schwan uses the
Waterlase HydroKinetic YSGG dental
laser during implants, among many
other procedures. “It’s the only laser
that cools as it works, and in many
instances, I don’t even have to use
anesthesia with it,” he says.
• Although there are many teethwhitening
products available in stores,
Dr. Weisbard and Dr. Schwan recommend
having this procedure done by a
professional. “With home kits, the
patient doesn’t have the same control
we have in the office. There is a possibility
of over-bleaching, spotting
caused by uneven application and misuse
of the materials,” Dr. Weisbard
says. “In our office, we fit you with a
custom tray to ensure that the bleaching
material is evenly applied and the
results are what you expect.”
Both Dr. Weisbard and Dr. Schwan practice full service dentistry, noting that ongoing relationships with patients enable them to detect potential problems and fix them before they become major issues. This makes any subsequent cosmetic work go more smoothly.
The two practitioners offer thoughts on choosing the right dentist for cosmetic and general work. Dr. Weisbard advises, “Make sure it’s a good match both personality- and work-wise. The dentist should answer all your questions and be available for follow-up.”
Dr. Schwan agrees, adding, “This is an investment in your health and your appearance. You should feel comfortable establishing a working relationship with this person and make sure he or she has your best interests at heart. Your teeth are different from everyone else’s, and they should be treated in a unique manner.”
