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, June 12, 2008

Almost Instant Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Nobody likes having crooked teeth and those who do almost always say that the thought of having straight, beautiful teeth is very appealing to them. But the idea of many months or even several years of orthodontics (braces) keeps many adults from doing anything about it.

Kandes was just such a person. She had crooked teeth and definitely didn’t want braces. She was at the point in her life that she didn’t have the time and want a great smile in the quickest way possible, and for her braces were just out of the question.

However, Kandes also had something special going on in her life and now was the time to do something about her smile. She was “Mrs. Southwest 2005? and competed in the Mrs. U.S. Globe beauty pageant.

So, how could she get a beautiful smile without doing the old braces route? The answer of course is that cosmetic dentistry with porcelain veneers is usually a great alternative to orthodontics, especially for adults. Although not technically orthodontics, the results are straight teeth in just a couple visits, which in comparison to the traditional 1-3 years of orthodontics seems to be almost “instant” in comparison.

BEFORE

The photo above shows what she didn’t like about her teeth and smile. Her teeth were crooked, chipped and discolored. She especially didn’t like her upper left eye tooth (canine), which she called her “fang tooth”. The photo below is the beautiful result we achieved with porcelain veneers in three visits.

AFTER

Although there are many circumstances when orthodontics is absolutely the best course of treatment (younger patients, teeth with good color or “bleachable”, teeth not worn, chipped or having multiple fillings or crowns), there are also many times when cosmetic dentistry is a preferably way of getting a sensational new smile (adult, discolored teeth, crowded or spaced teeth, multiple fillings or chipped teeth). Clearly the advantage of a couple visits and the ability to create the color, shape, position and length of the teeth to compliment the patients face gives cosmetic dentistry many advantages to the busy adult.

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

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 6:55 AM

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Porcelain Veneers and the Trial Smile, Formula for Successful Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Cosmetic dentists strive for patient satisfaction, especially when doing a smile makeover for their patient with porcelain veneers. One challenge is the ability of the dentist and patient to actively and effectively communicating between each other. Oftentimes it is hard for the patient and dentist to verbally describe the smile they have in mind. But, as we’ve all heard a million times, A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS! That is where the “trial smile” comes in.
Let’s use my patient John here as an example. Here is the teeth and smile he presented with at his first appointment. It’s obvious that his teeth were crowded and misaligned and with these teeth he isn’t showing his best face to the world.
drhuefner_trialsmile1.jpg
I knew what I had in mind with regard to the smile I want to make for him, but what is the best way to communicate it to him? The answer is that I create a “trial smile” for John. I prepare his teeth for the “trial smile”, but first make him temporary veneers in the size, shape, color and arrangement that I think will make him happy and look his best. Here is his John with his “trial smile”.

drhuefner_trialsmile2.jpg

After wearing the “trial smile” for a few days, or as long as it takes to make up his mind, John returns for our final decision. If there is something he is concerned about, he can point to it or look at the photo on the computer monitor and tell me what he likes or dislikes (color, shape, length or position of the veneer/teeth). Then I make the appropriate adjustments or corrections. Then after that’s done and we’re all in agreement I take photos, models and measurements of “his approved trial smile”, which go to my ceramist as an accurate blue print for the design of John’s final porcelain veneers.

drhuefner_trialsmile3.jpg
The photo above is John’s new smile with his final porcelain veneers. What a difference compared to the smile he had just a few weeks previously. The “trial smile” is a very important tool which many cosmetic dentists use to eliminate a lot of the “guess work” with regard to porcelain veneers and smile enhancement procedures. That, along with very clear communication, are some of the very most important elements we use to insure successful treatment and patient satisfaction.

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

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 8:26 AM

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Almost "Instant" Correction of Crooked Teeth with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

Having crooked teeth really bothered Sylvia. She had always wished that she could have bad braces as a child, but now as an adult she wasn't willing to go through "all that hassle" (she was a busy professional person and multiple office visits over months or years just wasn't an option for her). She had seen "smile makeovers" done on the "Extreme Makeover" TV show, and wanted to know if cosmetic dentistry was an option for her?

BEFORE

Actually, in Sylvia's case, cosmetic dentistry, specifically using porcelain veneers, was the best option and would give her a great result. "But how many visits and how long would it take?", Sylvia asked. She was delighted to learn that she would have her "new smile" in just five week. We would start in two weeks and she would have them three weeks after that. Of course, that is exactly what we did for Sylvia. Here is the beautiful results we achieved for her with porcelain veneers.

AFTER

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

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posted by Dr. Norman Huefner at 9:01 AM

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