Smile Makeover
Laura Wittenauer, DDS isn’t just a cosmetic dentist. Rather than focus solely on creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Laura creates a smile makeover that is well planned, comfortable, natural looking, and designed to last a lifetime.
You’d be surprised to learn that many cosmetic dental concerns are actually caused by functional problems in the mouth or occlusion (bite). Failing to treat these problems will only lead to future damage in the dental restorations.
Equally as important, a smile makeover should compliment and enhance the patient’s face, not stick out or be obvious.
Smile Design is a comprehensive approach to cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Laura follows a four step process for patients who are receiving any type of dental restoration to ensure the best results for the individual.
Smile Design Process
Step 1 - Comprehensive Evaluation
The first step in smile design is a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Laura will physically examination your teeth, gums, mouth, jaw joints and muscles. She looks carefully for signs of decay, stress, or instability to address any problems prior to treatment.
For a smile makeover, Dr. Laura considers your facial features including the symmetry, size of the lips and mouth, and skin tone to make sure that the cosmetic changes will be natural looking.
Dr. Laura will take diagnostic x-rays, molds, impressions, and images of the teeth to aid in the next step, treatment planning.
Step 2 - Treatment Planning
Think of steps 1 and 2 like a set of blue prints for a builder. This part of the process is very important to ensure the long term success of the treatment. Dr. Laura creates a 3-D model to demonstrate and test how the changes will function.
Any changes or adjustments can be made easily in this stage. And since no changes been made inside the patient’s mouth, both the dentist and patient can feel comfortable and confident once the smile makeover begins.
Step 3 - Preparation and Prototype
After the completion of the treatment planning, Dr. Laura will prepare the teeth and mouth for the restoration and create temporaries.
Dr. Laura takes a conservative approach in preparing the teeth to retain as much of the natural teeth as possible. In most cases, a tiny portion of the natural tooth will need to be removed to accommodate the dental restorations and ensure a proper and comfortable fit.
Dr. Laura will create a prototype, which is a tooth-colored plastic version of the final restoration. Having the opportunity to “try on” the proposed restorations gives you a chance to see how they will fit, feel, and function inside your mouth.
As with steps 1 and 2, adjustments and changes can be made to the prototype to ensure that the final dental restoration will be a “perfect” fit.
Molds are taken of the teeth with and without the prototype and sent to the dental laboratory. Dr. Laura works with a dental laboratory located in the same building in Newport Beach, California. This allows for a much higher level of communication and in some cases, the lab technician is able to visit the patient and perform a consultation.
Step 4 - Smile Makeover
Because Dr. Laura follows such a comprehensive smile design process, the application of the final restoration is not a guess, but rather a predictable result that feels comfortable, looks natural, and functions optimally. While minor adjustments may be needed, overall, the last step is a very simple and easy visit.
How Long Will It Take?
The treatment time for a smile makeover will vary from one patient to another, depending on the individual’s needs and goals. If you have minor changes, the process could be complete in as little as a few weeks. For patients with more significant cosmetic and functional concerns, a smile makeover could take several months.
Complimentary Meet & Greet
Don’t let anything hold you back. Newport Beach cosmetic dentist, Dr. Laura Wittenauer offers a complimentary meet and greet where you can discuss your cosmetic dental concerns and learn about treatment options that might be right for you.
This consultation is free and includes 4 smile analysis photographs to help you visualize current issues and future possibilities. Schedule your consultation today!
