Dr. Samir Ayoub
In the PAC hands-on programs and Principles of Smile Design lecture, we teach and mentor our doctors on how to create beautiful smiles that usually involve ten upper anterior teeth. We emphasize these principles and the need to “turn the corner” to create buccal corridor and negative space elimination, fill out and broaden the smile, and create balance and symmetry.
But sometimes a smile can be greatly enhanced by restoring only the four upper anterior teeth. The knowledgeable dentist can incorporate these design principles and restore four teeth. This results in a less costly, less destructive aesthetic result, making the patient happy and inclined to refer others to your conservative expertise.
Of course each situation is different and should be analyzed and options presented. Collaboration with the patient is essential.
By having in depth knowledge, understanding and experience in smile design, as well as a vision of what constitutes an attractive smile, one can create an exceptional smile, be conservative and have less financial constraints and opposition. This is a win-win for doctor and patient.
I have done numerous smile enhancing procedures that required restoring only four teeth, and I will present a few cases here.
In the first case, (Fig 1, 2, 3) this 19 year old female came to my office with her mother who basically stated “my daughter needs twenty veneers” and chose me to do her case based on reputation and referral. With a “check” in hand both were convinced this was the answer to the crooked, discolored teeth, and enamel dysplasia. She did not want orthodontics, nor bleaching nor microabrasion.
Upon exam, review and discussion, I stated that I would not do twenty teeth. I could get excellent results with four teeth and whitening. If she insisted on ten upper and ten lower veneers she would have to go elsewhere.
The results were that the patient would not need a lifetime of replacements, the costs were considerably less and satisfaction for both the patient and doctor… priceless!
In the next case (Fig 4, 5, 6) the patient was having life difficulties, had minimal resources and needed her anterior teeth fixed to pursue work and feel better about herself. Gingival recontouring on 7 to 10 lower anterior esthetic ondontoplasty and four upper conservative veneers created an exceptional result for this patient.
Another case of four upper anterior restorations, this one being an accident case, can be reviewed in a previous PAC newsletter article “ Emergency to Ecstasy.”
And for the last case (Fig 7, 8) haven’t we all seen anterior teeth with old restorations? What a life-changing effect with only four veneers.
As a “cosmetic dentist“ you can use the same principles of incisal edge position, tooth properties, gingival symmetry, contacts, incisal embrasures etc., and lower teeth odontoplasty to make a smile the patient will be very happy with as well as able to afford.
Any combination of treatments can be utilized to give the patient a more attractive and radiant smile with less expense and minimal but directed conservative treatment.
More patients can afford treatment and will refer others for your expert vision and skills.
Utilizing all that you learn in our courses and understanding smile and facial beauty, you can be the expert in creating beautiful, natural smiles minimally.
So the next time a patient presents with the desire or need to improve their smile and appearance, study the case thoroughly, educate the patient to the various possibilities, and have multiple options so that every patient has the ability to enhance their smile.
For more information about the PAC’s courses visit www.thePAC.org.
If you have questions about my article or if you would like to send a case, please contact the Pacific Aesthetic Laboratory Group at www.pacificaestheticdentalstudio.com, Gary Vaughn, CDT, CTO (916) 786-6740, or via email [email protected].
