Debbie Chavez — Fixing a smile makeover

Debbie had her front teeth “veneered” by another dentist prior to coming to me.

I saw Debbie initially because six months after her cosmetic makeover at the other dentist, she began having problems with the teeth that had been worked on. Three of the six teeth treated began to ache and required root canal treatment, probably due to the large amount of tooth structure that was carelessly taken away during her “cosmetic” treatment. Shortly after taking care of the toothaches, a few of the veneers de-bonded from the teeth and fell off. At this point Debbie began to wonder about the value of the treatment she received from the other dentist and asked me if the teeth could be fixed.

I started by evaluating her smile and asking her about what she liked and didn’t like. This was done by taking photographs as well as plaster models of her mouth so it was easy to discuss the shape, length, and color of her teeth, the surrounding gum tissue, as well as her lips and face. After hearing her perception of things that either detracted or enhanced her smile, we discussed my observations and together formulated a plan for her smile that addressed both of our concerns. In essence, we collaborated our thoughts and I explained what had to be done to reach our goals for both aesthetics and function. We wanted a treatment plan that would result in restorations that looked great, were comfortable for Debbie, and functioned for as long as posible.

We ultimately decided to replace all six restorations, which gave me the ability to improve the smile’s appearance, enhance the structural integrity of the teeth, and improve the health of the gum tissue. Debbie was given a chance to preview the desired final result with provisional restorations.

She was happy with the way the provisionals looked, felt, and functioned after wearing them for several weeks. Photographs and molds of the provisional crowns were sent to the dental laboratory to aid in the fabrication of the permanent porcelain crowns. The final crowns were temporarily placed into her mouth, checked for fit and comfort, and then permanently cemented. Debbie was amazed at how such seemingly small changes from the original restorations made a big difference and enhanced the overall look of her smile. She has had no problems with toothaches or de-bonding since the second set of restorations was completed in my office and is completely happy with her smile.