My Grandaughter is Getting Married This Weekend. What Can I Do About My Front Teeth?
A new patient came into the office with front teeth that were less than desirable from a cosmetic standpoint. Old fillings, wearing, and teeth chipping caused that smile to not be ideal for wedding pictures. Everything was in place for the wedding, with all the details taken care of, down to the dress. The teeth were the last thing.
I didn’t have a lot of time to fix this problem. Fortunately for her and me, new materials allow me to create beautiful cosmetics in a fraction of the time they used to.
Overcompensating Front Teeth Leads to Trouble
Before I tell you what I did, let’s talk about how this very sweet new patient got into her current situation. The answer comes down to two words, “back teeth.”
I may have touched on this before, but a good review always helps.
Teeth are made to look different. Did you ever stop to think and wonder why this is so? Different teeth have different functions; thus, the back teeth are broader and square. They are used for mashing and grinding food. They are crucial to the digestive process. The more they break down the food, the easier it is for the stomach and its buddies to do their job.
As you move forward in the mouth, the teeth are still square but smaller. As we head to the front, the teeth now show cutting edges and blades to rip and tear the food apart so that the back teeth can do their job. Note that we have both right and left sides of the mouth. Redundancy isn’t just by coincidence. However, that will be a topic for a later time.
Let’s get back to our patient with the weekend wedding. She was missing many back teeth. The body and our instinct for survival and food are very great. What happens is that the front teeth take over the job of the back teeth. They are not as efficient and take a lot of wear and tear. The result is the breakdown, chipping, and fracturing of these teeth as the chewing process proceeds, and now we can understand why back teeth are so crucial to the health of the front teeth. When we ask a tooth to do another job than intended, we create a lot of damage.
Getting a Smile Makeover in an Hour
Okay, so what did I do? I could fix, repair, modify, and beautify her smile in less than an hour. She left the office with the ability to participate in the wedding and its overabundance of photos with a terrific look. New materials let me do this quickly and easily, allowing me to do a 1-hour smile makeover. Summer is here, and we are all getting out and doing things. Now is a perfect time to fix the damage that may be present on our teeth. Cosmetics and functional efficiency in chewing are both very important. If you have previously thought about this and were hesitant, my advice is “don’t be afraid.” Call me for a consultation and discover how you can recreate your smile and health. I can be reached at 440.951.7856. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.