Cosmetic Dentistry Orange County | Huefner Sensational Smiles Blog

Breaking and losing a front tooth can be devastating and very embarrasing. Everyone sees it.

Rita broke off just such a tooth at the gum line and it needed replacement. We discussed several options with her (placing a porcelain bridge, a removable partial denture or dental implant). In her case she didn't want to do anything to the adjacent teeth, so a porcelain bridge wasn't chosen. Also, she didn't want a tooth replacement that came in and out like a removable partial denture, so that wasn't chosen either. She wanted something permanent and very strong and accordingly, chose to do a dental implant.

Here is the process that we used to restore her tooth and smile with the dental implant.

First, the remaining part of the tooth (the root) was removed (extracted). A dental implant was placed into the area were the root was.

Then a zirconia abutment was made.

It was placed into the metal dental implant.

A porcelain crown was made that fits onto the zirconia dental implant abutment.

The porcelain crown was cemented onto the zirconia dental implant abutment.

This was a successful case, but could have looked better had veneers been done on the two adjacent teeth to cover over the yellow root areas. Notice how beautifully matched the dental implant was to the two adjacent teeth!

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

Labels: dental implant, irvine, laguna niguel, mission viejo, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers

Hating the two old "caps" that had been placed on her two front teeth a number of years ago, Tracy wanted teeth that looked natural and would give her a nicer looking smile.

BEFORE

When we looked closely at Tracy's smile we noticed that there were several other problems besides just having bad looking caps. There was a disproportion of her teeth size (the front two teeth were too wide and thick and the rest of her teeth were too small). She showed too much of her gums when she smiles. The gums and root areas around the front two teeth were dark. Her side teeth leaned in and because of that, didn't pick up much light and made her teeth look darker. Also, she really wanted a whiter, brighter smile.

After much discussion Tracy decided on having her two front caps redone with new all-porcelain crowns and have porcelain veneers on her other teeth. Also, to have some minor gum reshaping with the dental laser so that there would be less of her gums showing and that the gums that did show would be more even. Here is the results we achieved with Tracy's new smile with porcelain veneers and two new porcelain crowns.

AFTER

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

Labels: irvine, laguna beach, mission viejo, orange county cosmetic dentist, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers

1. The first appointment for new porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns is a diagnosis and treatment planning visit, about 1 hr. 15 minutes. This consists of a full examination with x-rays, models of your teeth, photographs of your face and teeth, gum length and facial analysis, and smile design analysis. No local anesthetic is needed or given at this appointment.

BEFORE

2. Tooth preparation and “trial smile” (temporary veneers) appointment, about 2-3 ½ hrs. A gentle local anesthetic is given to numb the teeth. Sometimes a tranquilizing medicine in the form of a pill is given to make the patient more relaxed and comfortable. The patient leaves that visit with their “trial smile”, the “test drive” of the new smile with temporary veneers. During the next few days the patient evaluates the shape, length, contour and color of the trial smile for esthetics, comfort and phonetics (who the teeth might effect speech).

3. “Trial Smile” approval for the final shade, length, contour and color. This visit is done 2-4 days after the tooth preparation visit and lasts about 45 minutes. No local anesthetic or tooth drilling is done at this appointment. Patient and doctor finalize all aspects of the smile design, especially the color and length of the porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Approved smile design is photographed, teeth measured for length and models are taken for the master ceramist to use in fabrication of the final porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Patient signs written approval of smile design and their final choice in porcelain veneer or porcelain ccrown shade.

"TRIAL SMILE"

4. Porcelain veneer or porcelain crown placement appointment, about 2-3 hrs. Local anesthetic is given, the temporary veneers or crowns (“trial smile”) are removed, permanent porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns are placed for the patient to preview and approve. Patient sees veneers or crowns on their teeth in three lighting conditions (fluorescent, incandescent and natural sunlight) as part of the approval process. Patient signs written approval accepting final porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns prior to final placement (bonding the porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns onto the teeth with laser).

5. Porcelain veneer or porcelain crown check appointment, about ½ hr, 2-5 days after placement. No local anesthetic needed or given at this appointment. The bite (occlusion) of the porcelain veneers or crowns are checked and any adjustments indicated are done.

AFTER

6. Portrait appointment (optional, no fee for this appointment), 1-4 weeks after placement. Dr. Huefner, gold medal winning portrait photographer, takes your portraits of his porcelain veneer or porcelain crown patients as part of “the celebration of your new smile”. A DVD or CD is given to the patient that included all photographs taken.

JILL FRICK AND HER BEAUTIFUL NEW SMILE WITH PORCELAIN VENEERS

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

Labels: cosmetic dentist, irvine, laguna beach, mission viejo, san clemente

The length of the teeth, especially your front two teeth, is an extremely important part of how the world sees your smile. If your teeth are too short, it may make you look older than your years and take a lot away from the power of your smile. If the teeth are too long, because the gums have possibly receded over the years, then the smile can be unattractive or even distracting. The length of the front teeth needs to be “just right” for a great smile. So, when cosmetic dentists create a new smile for their patients, with porcelain veneers, bonding or all-ceramic crowns, what are the criteria that they use?The first test I use is to check my patient when they relax their mouth and face muscles, with the mouth slightly open and separating the back teeth so they aren’t touching together. The upper lip has to be totally relaxed. In general I would like to see 1-2mm (about 1/8”) of the front teeth showing. If I don’t see any teeth showing, the front teeth may be too short. If I see more than that, there may be a short upper lip or a large overbite and long teeth that I have to take into consideration.

The left photo shows teeth that are probably too short and the one on the right is of unworn teeth, which is more youthful and attractive. The next test is having the patient give a full smile. How much of the upper front teeth do I see then? If all of the front teeth show, then the next thing I want to see that the tooth is longer than it is wide (rectangular). If the front tooth is as wide as it is long (square), it may be considered too short and/or aged. If it is wider than it is long, the teeth would definitely be considered too short and very aged! The most common reason for short teeth is from wearing away from a grinding habit, which is more pronounced with older individuals.

The left photo shows teeth that are too long for the smile. The next photo shows worn teeth that are now square. The third photo demonstrates severely shortened and worn teeth. The last photo shows teeth that are normal in shape and length for this patient’s smile.There was a study done once where the public was shown various people smiling and could observe the full length of the front teeth. Almost universally they thought that the most beautiful smiles had front teeth that were 1.29 times longer than they were wide (in dental terms a 78% width-length ratio). Thus, a great starting point for a dentist is to measure the width of the tooth, do the math, and then establish the ideal visual length for the front two teeth. (By the way, one test you can use on that might give you an idea as to how well trained your dentist is with cosmetic dentistry would be to ask “What is the ideal proportion of the length of the upper front two teeth?” Answers of 78% (ideal), 75-80% (acceptable range) or 1.29 times longer than wide are answers that probably indicate that the dentist has studied the finer points of cosmetic dentistry.)This length can be tested to see how the patient likes the length before any treatment is even started. Without needing any numbing medicine or doing any drilling, filling material can be added temporarily onto the short front teeth. Then the patient and dentist can evaluate the length for optimum esthetics when the patient has a relaxed mouth or a big smile. There is another criteria that cosmetic dentists like and that is for the edges of the eight upper front teeth to follow the contour of the lower lip when smiling. Cosmetic dentists call this “following the smile line” .

This photo demonstrates a nice smile that follows the “smile line” and teeth are attractive and normal in length for this patients smile. It should be obvious that this is a post-treatment photo of a lady with 8 porcelain veneers. The last test that we use is to verify the esthetically determined teeth length with phonetics or “speech function”. If the teeth are too long then they will hit the lower lip to much and affect the ability to produce the “f” and "v" sounds. If the patient says the word “fifty-five” or "victory" cosmetic dentists like to see the upper teeth to gently touch the lower lip. If the front teeth hit too hard and the teeth are too long, making a proper the “f” and "v" sounds will be difficult.

But more important than all of these cosmetic dentistry criteria is that the patient likes his or her new smile with porcelain veneers and can comfortably and appropriately speak. Establishing the length of the new veneers should be a joint decision between the cosmetic dentist and the patient.

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

Labels: c, cosmetic dentist, irvine, mission viejo, orange county cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers, san juan capistrano

Madeline hated the huge space between her front two teeth, which she called "the gap". She wanted "the gap" closed, be was concerned that by making just her two front teeth wider, that they would look too wide and unnatural.

BEFORE

She was right. Dr. Huefner suggested that rather than take a "two teeth" approach, that Madeline consider her whole smile. What did she really want for a smile? What color teeth did she want? How long or short did she want them? What shape of teeth did she want? At what position in her mouth? After carefully evaluating all the things about her teeth Madeline also thought that they were too short, having worn down over the years. She decided that she wanted all her teeth whiter, a bit longer (like they were when she was a young lady), and better proportioned.
After hearing what she really wanted, Dr. Huefner suggested that she consider porcelain veneers on her eight upper front teeth. Madeline decided to follow Dr. Huefner's suggested treatment plan and this is the result that was achieved in about a month's time and five visits over the course of five weeks (treatment planning visit, veneer preparation visit, appointment to finalize smile design and color, visit to place the final porcelain veneers and one post treatment check appointment).

AFTER PORCELAIN VENEERS

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

Labels: cosmetic dentist, irvine, mission viejo, orange county cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers, san juan capistrano

Mrs. Desert States, came from Reno, Nevada, to Orange County just had her smile makeover with porcelain veneers by Dr. Huefner. Dr. Huefner did her cosmetic dental treatment just four days before the Mrs. U.S.-Globe Pageant. Tierra knew that looking her best on stage, just like in business, is important to success and she wanted to look, feel and be her very best while competiting for the title of Mrs. U.S.-Globe.

Before coming to Dr. Huefner Tierra had short, chipped and discolored teeth, but left with a sensational new smile. Tierra just beamed on the runway at the pageant and placed as the second runner up and is shown here with Dr. Huefner.

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

Labels: laguna beach, laguna niguel, mission viejo

Your teeth and smile are a huge part of your face and smile and the way the world sees you. having an unattractive smile always really bothered Barbara. She showed too much of her gums, which were very uneven. Her teeth were spaced, crooked, discolored and she didn't like the actual shape of the teeth.

BEFORE

What could be easily be done? Well, we suggested she have two things done immediately. Reshape her uneven gums with the dental gum laser and then whiten her teeth. This is the way her smile looked two weeks later after doing those two things.

AFTER LASER GUM RESHAPING AND TEETH BLEACHING

Barbara was pleased, but then decided she really wanted a nicer smile. What else could be done? Dr. Huefner recommended porcelain veneers. He could give her the color she always really wanted (much whiter), fill the spaces, give her normal shaped teeth of the appropriate length to follow the smile line of her lower lip. Here is how her new smile looked the following month after Dr. Huefner finished the smile makeover for Barbara with porcelain veneers.

AFTER PORCELAIN VENEERS

Barbara looked terrific with her new smile. Amazing how cosmetic dentistry and porcelain veneers can greatly improve someone's appearance so much and so quickly.

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

Labels: cosmetic dentist, gummy smile, irvine, laser gum reshaping, mission viejo, orange county, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening

Cheryl's teeth were dark, very discolored with many old fillings. She was tired of being embarrassed to smile, and especially hated the way her teeth and smile looked in family photos.

BEFORE

You'll note from the photo that she shows 12 teeth. Because of this, and the fact that she wanted whiter teeth, we recommended that she do 7 porcelain veneers and replace the three old porcelain crowns with whiter all-porcelain crowns. However, Cheryl decided only to do the 7 porcelain veneers. This is the beautiful result we achieved for her.

AFTER

This was an incredible improvement in Cheryl's smile, but you'll note that there are still three back/side teeth that are yellow and don't truly match the whiter color porcelain veneers that Cheryl chose. How much nicer Cheryl's smile would have been by doing all ten teeth in the same color porcelain, rather than just doing the seven teeth.

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

Labels: irvine, mission viejo, orange county cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening

Many people realize that their smile is very important for them and Stacy was the type of person who always wants to look and feel her very best. She had old plastic bonding done years ago, but it kept chipping and staining over the years. Finally, she was ready to do something better and more permanent to correct her smile.

BEFORE

Dr. Huefner also pointed out that her teeth all angled and weren't really straight in alignment with her face. He suggested replacing the old plastic bonding with porcelain veneers, which would also correct her misaligned teeth.

As you can clearly see, Stacy was very pleased with her new smile with porcelain veneers. A beautiful smile for a beautiful lady!

AFTER

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

Labels: mission viejo, orange county cosmetic dentist, porcelain crowns, san clemente, smile design

Yellow teeth! This really frustrated Paul and he wanted to do something about it. He had tried bleaching, but his teeth were just too discolored for bleaching to give him the whiter, brighter smile than he had always wanted. Also, his teeth were crooked and he had a number of the mercury-amalgam fillings done in his youth on his side and back teeth. Not only did those discolor his teeth almost blackish, but they were weakening his teeth and they were starting to crack and break. It was time to replace the old dentistry and get a smile that he would be proud of.
BEFORE

Dr. Huefner recommended porcelain veneers for Paul, as not only could his teeth be made a lot whiter (as he had always wanted them to be), but they would be straight and even. Also, the veneers on the side teeth could be made so at the same time they would replace the mercury amalgam fillings giving him two benefits....better looking teeth and also stronger.
AFTER

Paul’s smile makeover with porcelain veneers was done in just a few visits, beginning to end just three weeks.

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

Labels: irvine, mission viejo, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, santa margarita

Rachel was Miss Teen Orange County and wasn't extremely happy about the appearance of her upper front teeth. Soon she would be entering other beauty pageants and wanted to look her very best on stage and of course, to impress the judges.

Dr. Huefner suggested cosmetic dentistry with porcelain veneers, and within a few weeks had created a sensational smile for her with 8 porcelain veneers by MAC (see www.macveneers.com).

Not surprisingly, Rachel then went on and won the crown at the Miss Teen California-International Pageant.
Congratulations Rachel, we're all very proud of you! You look absolutely beautiful.

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

Labels: cosmetic dentist, irvine, mission viejo, orange county, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening

Jackie had two old porcelain over metal crowns on her front two teeth and she hated the way they looked. They were opaque and just didn't look natural and real, were Jackie's comments.
BEFORE
After looking more closely, Jackie didn't like the color of her other teeth either. She wanted whiter teeth! Also, her lateral incisors (the teeth next to the front two teeth) were small and one was a little gray. What could she do to have a beautiful, natural smile....the kind that she had always wanted?

Dr. Huefner suggested that she first bleach her teeth (teeth whitening), making all her natural teeth whiter, which she did. Then he suggested replacing the front two crowns with new all-porcelain crowns and making porcelain veneers for her lateral incisors. Thus, all four front teeth would match and be in proper proportion. Jackie agreed to Dr. Huefner's proposed cosmetic treatment and the treatment was completed in just a few visits over a three week period. Here is the results Dr. Huefner achieved for Jackie by just treating her four front teeth.
AFTER
Afterwards, Dr. Huefner took these portraits of Jackie in his studio. As you can see, Dr. Huefner does both cosmetic dentistry and portrait photography for his cosmetic patients.

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

Labels: cosmetic dentist, irvine, mission viejo, newport beach, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers