Cosmetic Dentistry Orange County | Huefner Sensational Smiles Blog

Serving Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Margarita, and Surrounding Areas Of Orange County, California

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Peg-teeth Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Lisa had gone through three years of braces, but still wasn’t happy with her teeth and smile. Why? Her teeth were straight, weren’t they? Yes, but she still had a couple problems. First, her lateral incisors were “peg shaped”, smaller than normal. Her central incisors (the front two teeth) had a funny shape, wider near the gums than they should be, and they were too short. Also, her side teeth (bicuspids) tipped in. But most of all, Lisa wanted her teeth to be whiter.

drhuefner_lisa1.jpg BEFORE

The solution for Lisa was porcelain veneers on her upper eight teeth. Here is the new smile achieved for Lisa in just a few appointments.

drhuefner_lisa2.jpg AFTER

Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 3:57 PM

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Rugged Gentleman Gets Great Smile with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Philip had a rugged smile with worn and discolored teeth. If you look closely at the photo below you'll notice that he was actually congenitally missing two of his incisors (born without the tooth "bud" for two front teeth, something we see in about 5% of the population).

drhuefner_4veneers_1_resize.jpg BEFORE

Over the years Philip's gums had receded which left gaps between his teeth as well. It was time for a change. He didn’t want to look “perfect”, just to have nice looking teeth when he smiled.

Our first appointment with Philip was a complimentary cosmetic dentistry consultation. We took photos of Philip's teeth and smile and looked at them on the computer monitor. This enabled us to communicate better and make sure we were all seeing the same things and truly addressing the concerns that he had.

After discussing his particular situation, likes and dislikes, and goals, Dr. Huefner suggested treating his smile with just four porcelain veneers. He recommended making his two front teeth a little longer and by making his cuspids look like lateral incisors so that he would have a natural looking smile. Also, the color of the veneers were made just a little lighter than the other visible teeth. The result, a younger, more healthy looking, more attractive and professional looking masculine smile! John was thrilled with the result.

drhuefner_4veneers_2_resize.jpg AFTER

As you might have guessed by the huge improvement, the patient was extremely pleased with the result achieved for him.
Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 2:01 PM

Monday, February 23, 2009

Sensational Smile with Porcelain Veneers and a Ceramic Bridge by Dr. Huefner

Not happy with her teeth and smile, Uliana wanted to know what options cosmetic dentistry might have for her. Her teeth were very discolored and wearing down on the edges. She also had a crossbite on one side and didn't like the way her porcelain-to-metal crowns and bridge looked.
BEFORE
We recommended porcelain veneers on her front teeth and replacement of her old crowns and bridges with all-ceramic porcelain crowns (non-metal based) and porcelain bridge. She wanted to be involved in the design of the shape and length of her "new teeth" and was particularly concerned about achieving a full smile. The results we achieved for her were sensational!
AFTER

Then a few weeks later we took her post treatment portraits right in our "sensational smiles studio". As you can clearly see, she was very happy with her cosmetic dentistry and porcelain veneers. One of these portraits that we took will be entered in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry annual Smile Gallery competition. Wish us luck!



Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 11:53 AM

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Dark, Discolored Teeth Corrected with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Most people would agree that your smile is very important to you. Many might say that it even sends a message to the whole world about you…about your health, about how you take care of yourself, about how good you look, etc. Your smile is about a third of what you see of your face, so to many that is very important.

Wendy’s teeth were very discolored, especially her front tooth. She’s a professional person and knows how important to appear her best in business and in the public.

drhuefner_wendy1.jpg BEFORE

After discussing her personal situation, Dr. Huefner suggested porcelain veneers to Wendy, along with an advanced procedure to disguise the dark root under the dark front tooth.

Wendy decided it was time to improve her smile and have the cosmetic dentistry that Dr. Huefner recommended. Here are two photos of Wendy and the sensational new smile that was achieved for her with porcelain veneers on her upper teeth.
drhuefner_wendy2.jpg AFTER

drhuefner_wendy3.jpg

Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 8:39 AM

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Porcelain Veneers and Smile Design Part II by Dr. Huefner

When getting a "new smile", either with porcelain veneers, bonding or all-porcelain crowns, it is a serious decision. Of course, you'll want to choose the color teeth that you think makes you look your very best, but how about the length, shape and proportion of the teeth? In many respects, that may have more influence on the final result than just the color. Your dentist, as a cosmetic artist, will suggest a "smile style" that he or she thinks will give you the best overall look.

So, what is the perfect “smile style” for your new porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns? In my previous article about Smile Design, I discussed that there are over 30,000 different ways that a cosmetic dentist can create a new smile and one of the most popular “smile guides”, Dr. William Dickerson’s “LVI Smile Library”. This article features my other favorite “smile guides”, the Lorin Library, created by cosmetic dentist Dr. Lorin Berland of Dallas, TX. Each smile style is a combination of the teeth shapes for the front six teeth. For example, the four front teeth (incisors) could be either square at the corners (s), square at one corner and rounded at the other (sr), or rounded at both corners (r). Similarly, the cuspids or eye teeth (third tooth back) could be pointed (p), rounded (r) or flat (f). Combining these different shapes each produces a uniquely different smile style. Note that the first smile design on the top left has a r-r-f design, meaning the four incisors are rounded and the canines are flat. Please note, this smile library below is only to choose the basic shape of the front six teeth, and in no way reflect the color, length, surface texture or translucency that the porcelain veneers or crowns will have. Those other things are addressed in other aspects of smile design and choosing the best combination for your “sensational new smile”.
Loren library
In creating a new smile for you with porcelain veneers or all-ceramic crowns, we could use any of the above 18 smile designs from the Lorin Library or any of the 12 smile designs from the “LVI Smile Library”. However, in general I recommend against smile designs that have the cuspids (third teeth back from the center) too pointy (p) or too flat (f). Pointy cuspids can make the smile look to aggressive and flat cuspids can render an older looking smile. It is so important in the beginning of treatment that my patient involve themselves in an active discussion with me regarding the different smile styles available and which would be most appropriate for them. We take into consideration the age, face shape, personality and a host of other things when recommending one smile style over another. Using our technique called “the trial smile” we’re able to make provisional veneers or crowns so that our patient can “test drive” their new smile prior to making any final decision regarding the smile design for their final porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. This is very helpful, as many patients are very relieved that they can try out their smile before making their final decision.

Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 8:35 AM

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Orange County Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Huefner Judges Mrs. Globe Pageant

posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 2:12 PM

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Younger, More Attractive Smile with Porcelain Veneers for Colette by Dr. Huefner

Your teeth and smile are probably are among the very most noticeable features of your face. Colette realized this. When you talk or express yourself, your mouth and eyes are the communicators the move and attract attention. If your teeth are worn, discolored, misshaped, crooked and contain unnatural fillings or crowns, this can age your smile and appearance. Colette is an attractive lady and knew that she didn't present the very best image of herself because of her teeth. A professional lady in sales, looking her best was very important to her and she was ready to get her smile in shape!
Colette with worn teeth and old dentistry

She wanted Dr. Huefner to create a younger, more attractive smile. A part of this was she knew she wanted her teeth whiter, but still to look natural. She had friends who had caps that looked false and opaque and certainly didn't want that! Also, she wanted her two ugly caps, one on her front tooth and the other on her back molar to be replaced. And how about her slightly crooked teeth? Would she need braces to correct that? Fortunately, all of Colette's dental concerns could be corrected with porcelain veneers and two all-porcelain crowns to replace her old porcelain on metal crowns. And even better, she could get her completed "new smile" in just a couple of weeks, beginning to end!
She had heard of porcelain veneers before, especially DaVinci veneers used on the TV show "Extreme Makeover" and Lumineers, from the many ads seen in magazines. What type of porcelain veneers would Dr. Huefner recommend? After careful consideration of many factors, Dr. Huefner utilized MAC veneers by master ceramist Dave Stohlman. Dr. Huefner had used MAC veneers by Dave Stohlman for over a dozen beauty pageant winners over the years and if it was good enough for those ladies who really depend on having a beautiful smile, then it was good enough for Colette!

Colette's sensational new smile with porcelain veneers and all-porcelain crowns to replace old porcelain-metal crowns.

Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 9:21 AM

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Missing Front Teeth Replaced with Conservative Bonded Bridges by Dr. Huefner

Dawn was congenitally missing her two upper lateral incisors. This is a common problem, as 3-5% of the U.S. population are congenitally missing either one or two lateral incisors or lower bicuspids.

Dawn congenitally missing her two lateral incisors

She had braces for two years and the orthodontist had put two false teeth on her retainer. Now 18 years old and soon going off to college, she was becomming increasingly dissatisfied with the appearance of her teeth and smile and wanted an improvement before she left. What were her options, she asked Dr. Huefner.

One option was dental implants, however that is not a good choice until her facial growth is completed, which it hadn't in her case. It may be five or more years until she could have implants.

Another choice was a better removable partial denture than she currently had. But she hated the fact that it came in and out and really wanted a more permanent solution.

The traditional treatment would be two 3-unit porcelain bridges. However that would mean that the teeth on both sides of the missing teeth would need to be reshaped and completely covered over with crowns, meaning that instead of just two teeth replacements she would have six!

Wasn't there something better, more conservative for Dawn?

Yes, today modern cosmetic dentist now have a better solution, permanent non-metal, porcelain on fiber reinforced resin bonded lingually retained bridges. No drilling on the front of any of her teeth, just very conservative preparation on the backs of the adjacent teeth. Here is the results that we achieved for Dawn with two bonded lingually retained bridges.

Dawn treated with two conservative lingually retained permanent bridges.

As you can imagine, Dawn was trilled with the improvement in her teeth and smile that we were able to achieve for her.

Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Orange County, CA

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 1:46 PM

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