I am biased. I want my work to be great for my patients now and for a long time to come. I love a beautiful smile. Plastic surgeons, hairdressers, make-up artists all know that a great smile is the most important part of making a person look more attractive and vital. We are able to enhance smiles so they are brighter, more uniform and attractive while still looking real. Last week while out to dinner, I saw one of my patients; a school teacher. She was dressed up, with make up on. Her face just glowed. The smile she flashed was our secret. No one would ever guess you were looking at dental artistry. It was bright and beautiful without being overdone.
Unfortunately, I almost squirm when I see a lot of the Hollywood smiles that almost scream, “FAKE!†Doing big bulky plain white teeth is easy. Lots of high volume production labs produce that stuff. When a dentist doesn’t need to pre-shape the teeth or gums, they are just going to bulk up the teeth like adding cheap false fingernails. The unfortunate consequence is usually a negative impact on the gum health, and difficulty speaking clearly and biting efficiently. How can you bite an apple when the edges of your teeth are two to four times their normal thickness? That is what happens with “instant†veneers and similar highly marketed procedures.
Too often, someone who buys the cheap, quick fix feels dissatisfied later and then looks for a more thoughtful approach. Treating something again is a lot more expensive than doing it well the first time. Quality is almost always the best long term value.
I have a saying; Run to failure, walk to success. Careful planning is essential to achieve consistent excellence. When I am doing important cosmetic, implant and restorative work for someone, I give reserve the time necessary to work on the small details that make that lifelike difference. It takes training, an eye and discipline. Some of the comments I hear patients make is, “ These are MY teeth. That’s how they feel! Not fake at all!†or, “ This is how they used to be! How did you know?â€, or , “This is what I have always wanted. “ It’s why we say, “Dentistry As A Fine Artâ€.