Cosmetic Dentistry Orange County | Huefner Sensational Smiles Blog

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dr. Huefner and the Sensational Smiles Team

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

We wish you all a joyous and festive holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy New Year from us all.
Susan, Catherine, Kathy, Pam and Dr. Huefner
Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

How to Choose the Best Color Porcelain Veneers or Porcelain Crowns?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:10:00 +0000

There are many reasons why patients choose to have cosmetic dentistry and especially porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns on front teeth. Sometimes because the teeth are crooked or worn or because they have numerous old fillings are common answers. But the most common reason is that they want “whiter, brighter teeth” and that bleaching didn’t give them what they wanted. Thus once you’ve finally decided to have cosmetic dentistry with all-porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers, then comes the very important decision, “what color do you make your new porcelain veneers?”
Do you want them to match the color of your other teeth as they are now? Probably not, especially since your teeth have most likely stained and darkened over the years. If you are like most people, you’ll want your new porcelain veneers lighter in color than they are now, which will help make you appear younger and healthier, but not too white or “fake looking”.

Here is a photo of a typical dental shade guide on the right, showing the sixteen basic shades going from darkest at the far right, to lighter shades on the left. These are the “natural” colors. Ten years ago most almost all porcelain veneers were made in one of those shades. But today, with bleaching and porcelain veneering, most people want their teeth whiter than those more “naturally” colored shades. On the left you’ll note the four new “bleaching shades”, which are whiter than the shades that occur naturally.
Today it is very typical for our patients to bleach their lower teeth and then do their porcelain veneers on their upper teeth in one of the four bleaching shades. At this time shade “020 or BL2” and “010 or BL1” are our most popular for smile makeovers involving 6-10 upper porcelain veneers.
Although the color of the porcelain is very important, I remind our patients that it is not the only thing that determines how white or natural your smile appears. The “translucency” or “opacity” of the porcelain veneers is a huge factor in allowing or not allowing light to partially pass through the porcelain veneers to appear natural. Real teeth have that translucency, and in general, unless the underlying teeth are extremely dark, some translucency is what we want in porcelain veneers or crowns on front teeth to mimic with the life-like and vital look of real teeth.
This doesn’t happen with opaque porcelains or with porcelain over metal (gold) crowns. The opacity, which often appears “life-less” is what so many patients object too when they see dentistry that they think looks “fake”.
But with semi-translucent porcelain veneers, which are bonded over natural teeth, the teeth can look whiter than natural teeth but still look extremely natural because of the “translucency factor”. Most of the smile makeovers with porcelain veneers that we place are done using MAC Empress Porcelain, which has beautiful life-like translucency, great colors and looks extremely natural even in the bleaching shade range. This is why so many of our patients go into the 020 (BL2) or 010 (BL1) shades and their veneers still look “real”.
Our patients always have the final decision on what color to make their porcelain veneers, but for those who want their porcelain veneers to be in the older and darker natural shades (in one of those sixteen shades on the right) I remind them that the color of their new porcelain veneers is permanent and they won’t lighten or darken over the years. With so many people bleaching their teeth and doing things to enhance their image, wanting to make themselves look younger and more attractive, we’re seeing society as a whole more and more often choosing one of the four bleaching shades on the left.
Color is very subjective, but our main criteria for shade selection is that the patient is happy with the choice of their new porcelain veneers. Here are photos of four ladies, each choosing a different color for their new porcelain veneers:

Although these colors may not show up very good on your computer monitor, each of these patients decided on a unique shade. The first lady on the upper left want her teeth to look natural, and not too white. The second lady on the upper right wanted a “white-bright” smile. The third, on the lower left, had only four porcelain veneers and after bleaching the rest of her upper teeth, wanted the four veneers to match the rest of her natural teeth. The fourth lady, on the lower right, was a little older and her entire life had wanted “white teeth!”. Thus, she chose an opaque “Hollywood white” shade.
Regardless of the color chosen by the patient (not by the dentist), our goal is for the patient to be happy with their new porcelain veneers or all-porcelain crowns and the color they choose. That is the most important thing, that the patient is very involved in the treatment choices and happy with the end results.

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

Correcting Small Teeth and Gummy Smile with Porcelain Veneers and the Dental Gum Laser by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:21:00 +0000

As a professional man, Conrad's image was very important to him and he certainly wanted to look his very best. But, showing too much of his gums and having teeth that were too small was very bothersome to him.

BEFORE

What could be done? Braces weren’t the answer. How could he get a great smile, whiter teeth, with less of a gummy smile and teeth of normal size? Fortunately for him, the solution was very straight forward and could be accomplished in a few weeks with porcelain veneers and laser gum recontouring ( a relatively easy noninvasive gum reducing procedure with little discomfort). Also, he wanted his teeth whiter. Note the color he chose for his new veneers and his sensational new smile!

AFTER

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

Porcelain Veneers and Crowns, Smile Style Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:10:00 +0000

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”.

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

New Smile for Kathy with Porcelain Veneers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:48:00 +0000

What is smile rejuvenation with cosmetic dentistry? Depending on your unique situation it could simply mean doing only one cosmetic procedure, or sometimes utilizing a combination of a couple of these cosmetic dental procedures to make your teeth and smile look better and younger: bleaching (teeth whitening), porcelain veneers, composite bonding, porcelain crowns, orthodontics, replacing old fillings with tooth colored fillings, laser gum reshaping or esthetic recontouring (reshaping the edges of the teeth).

Kathy is a baby boomer and like many she had much old dentistry. The problem was that all that was ever done was “fix the tooth” at a time, with little or no regard for the big picture….creating natural good looking teeth and smile. The result was a hodge-podge of dentistry.

Old dentistry and orthodontics didn't give Kathy a great smile to be proud of.

Her front two caps didn’t match the rest of her teeth and the metal edge on the one was showing. Her gums were uneven and after having two teeth pulled for braces, the orthodontics collapsed her side teeth so that all you really saw when she smiled was her front six teeth. She has some old fillings and crowns that had discolored her teeth as well. What Kathy wanted now as a “new look”, one that gave her a great smile that she wouldn’t be self conscious about any more. A sensational smile that she could be proud of!

Kathy was treated in just two visits, giving her that sensational smile she wanted. Some laser gum reshaping (also called a “gum lift”) was done to make the gum levels even, her front two porcelain-on-metal crowns were replaced with two all-porcelain crowns (non-metal), porcelain veneers were placed on the other visible teeth so that all her smile would have a beautiful, natural color. Of particular note, the side teeth that leaned in because of the poorly done orthodontics was corrected by placing veneers to widen her smile, giving the illusion that no teeth were pulled. Now when she smiles she shows a full compliment of teeth, not just the front six teeth!

Rejuvenated new smile with porcelain veneers, two porcelain crowns, and laser gum reshaping.

Kathy’s final results now allow her to smile with pride and look her very best.

Kathy's smile rejuvenated with porcelain veneers and cosmetic dentistry

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

Porcelain Veneers Don't Stain or Get Darker Over the Years by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:21:00 +0000

One of the biggest concerns people have about their smile is that their teeth discolor over the years. Bleaching is one answer, but often it has to be repeated and doesn't produce teeth as white as patient want. Porcelain veneers is an answer to whiter teeth, and also many other issues (such as size, crowding, proportion, shape, length, etc.), but many patients want to know that their new smile with porcelain veneers won't change color and darken over the years. This was certainly something that used to happen with plastic bonding that was done a decade or so ago.
Fortunately, with a smile on my face, I can assure my cosmetic dentistry patients that by using porcelain veneers we almost never see this the veneers darken over time. Porcelain veneers are dense and smooth as glass, and as such rarely pick up any stain. In placing porcelain veneers for over 20 years I have only had one instance where my patient had veneers that were staining, and that was because he was an avid cigar smoker. After polishing off the cigar stain and showing him a few techniques to improve his brushing habits, his veneers never seemed to pick up any stain after that. However, natural teeth and the older fashioned plastic veneers (which we used to use a lot in the 1980s when cosmetic bonding was first introduced into dentistry) will pick up stain and will often times darken over the years. To help overcome this, natural teeth can be polished in the dental office and bleaching treatments can be used. Old fashioned plastic bonding used to get a yellowish discoloration over the years because of the hardener incorporated into it, but with newer hardeners used today this rarely happen any more, but they still tend to stain and chip more than porcelain. However because of the superior color stability and increased strength of porcelain veneers, most dentists doing significant smile enhancements prefer using porcelain rather than plastic bonding for their patients.
Here is a photo of a patient who returned to my practice 19 years after I did porcelain veneers on her upper front four teeth. Notice that the veneers still match her other upper teeth, no wear or chipping, and they still have a great shine.

THE FACT THAT THESE VENEERS ABOVE WERE DONE 19 YEARS AGO SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE COLOR RESISTANCE AND DURABILITY OF PORCELAIN VENEERS!

It is interesting that this patient returned to my practice because she now wanted all her teeth whiter. This brings up a very important point, that since porcelain veneers don’t discolor it is essential that the cosmetic dentist and patient together choose an appropriate color for the new veneers. Back in 1986 when I originally placed those four porcelain veneers almost all patients and dentists tried to make teeth look natural and not too light in color, as those were the times before teeth whitening procedures became so common. But these days most all patients want whiter and brighter smiles, and choose colors to make them look younger, cleaner and more professional. Thus, when patients have darker teeth, like this lady, today we would generally recommend to do porcelain veneers on 8-10 teeth, to create a more esthetic and homogenous smile that goes along with the lighter color. These are some examples of more current smile makeover with veneers that we are doing in our practice. Note the lighter, more attractive colors currently in vogue.

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

Spaced, Crooked Teeth Transformed into Beautiful Smile with Porcelain Veneers and Crowns by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Symmetry is one of the most important concepts in facial beauty, and this is oftentimes very important especially with regards to slanted or crooked teeth and their effect on the smile. Spaced teeth that were also crooked and angled to one side really bothered Shannon, as it gave her a “lopsided” smile. In addition to that, she didn’t like the color or the shape of her teeth either. She knew how important nice looking teeth and smile are and soon had some special events coming up that she really wanted to have a nice smile for.

BEFORE

She consulted with us to find out what her options were with cosmetic dentistry. After evaluating her teeth and smile, and finding out more just what kind of smile she wanted, we advised doing her cosmetic dentistry with porcelain veneers. It would only takes a few visits, and Shannon could have her new smile completed in little over a month. Understandingly, she was appreshensive, but couldn’t wait to get started on her new smile.

AFTER

Above is the sensational new smile we created for Shannon with porcelain veneers. Note how symmetrical her smile is now, and doesn’t lean towards one side. Also how the edges of the teeth follow the curve of her lower lip. That is an important concept in cosmetic dentistry, called following the “smile line“. The thing that Shannon like best was the color, how much whiter and brighter her smile was, but still extremely natural looking.

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

Creating a Great Smile by Replacing Old Porcelain Caps with New All-Ceramic Cosmetic Dentistry

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:05:00 +0000

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

Smile Rejuvenation: Making Older Looking Teeth Younger Again with Porcelain Veneers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Monica is in her 40s but her teeth and smile were in their 80s! She was embarrassed to smile in photographs and would even put her hand in front of her mouth when speaking with others up close.
Before recommending any treatment Dr. Huenfer and Monica spent considerable time discussing what were her "needs," "wants" and "expectations" with regard to cosmetic dentistry. She said she wanted a really nice smile, and definitely whiter and more youthful looking teeth. Dr. Huefner wanted to know in her mind what her "ideal smile" would be? Then he could recommend the appropriate cosmetic dental treatment, which includes decisions as to the color, length and shape of the teeth. Also, the type of porcelain and the type of dental restoration (porcelain veneer, all-porcelain crown, porcelain-on-metal crown or composite bonding).
Monica had a much older looking smile and wanted a more youthful smile

After much discussion with Monica Dr. Huefner recommended the she have a smile makeover with all-ceramic restorations, porcelain veneers and a few all-porcelain crowns. She agreed to begin treatment according to Dr. Huefner's recommendations, and her treatment was completed in just a few weeks!

Monica's rejuvenated smile with porcelain veneers and all-porcelain crowns by Dr. Huefner

Monica was absolutely delighted with the final results of her cosmetic dentistry. By her own admission "it took off thirty years off of my face!"

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

Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers Featured in the MAC Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Tracy Kemble was recently featured in the MAC calendar for the month of April. Dr. Huefner did Tracy's smile makeover with MAC porcelain veneers. Tracy's photo also appeared on the cover of the Journal of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Beautiful Tracy with her beautiful new smile....a picture is worth a thousand words, especially if the picture is of someone as gorgeous as Tracy! Of course all of Tracy's veneers were fabricated by one of MAC's (Microdental Advanced Ceramics) award winning ceramists!

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

Porcelain Veneers for Ms. California-Globe by Orange County Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:00 +0000

There are many things that help people be the "best that they can be." Many things come to mind: appearance, eduction, hard work, attitude, etc. When competing in a beauty pageant those things are important, however how one appearance on stage might be one of the most important things a judge would consider. Along with that, a beautiful smile weighs very heavily!

Jen know this and wanted a more beautiful smile before competing in the Mrs. U.S.-Globe Beauty Pageant. She was the reigning Ms. California-Globe. Dr. Huefner created a stunning smile for her with porcelain veneers several months prior to the pageant.

Above photo shows the close up of the particular type of smile design we used from the LVI smile catalog. It is called the "enhanced smile style", a design that we have found to be one of our most pupular with women. Click LVI Smile Catalog to see examples of other smile styles.

After creating Jen’s new smile Dr. Huefner did her photoshoot in his cosmetic dental studio and entered the photo on the left in the Smile Gallery competition at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and won his second gold medal.

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

A Mature Woman Looks 10 years Younger with Smile Makeover and Porcelain Veneers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Martha is a lady who takes great pride in her appearance. She has worked hard over the years to be healthy and always look her best. Unfortunately Martha's smile hadn't kept up with the rest of her. Her teeth got progressively darker, had worn and shifted, leaving a gap between her front two teeth. She had one crown placed by her family dentist a few years earlier, but she expressed "it doesn't match my other teeth at all!".

Martha's teeth and smile were not reflective of the rest of her appearance and how well she took care of herself

She came to Dr. Huefner to discuss her options with cosmetic dentistry and she was very precise in listing all of the things about her teeth that she didn't like: 1) the dark color 2) her pointed cuspids (which she called her "fangs") 3) the mismatched cap on her front tooth 4) the space between her front teeth 5) the old mercury fillings that made her side teeth appear black.

After analyzing her teeth and smile, Martha decided on having Dr. Huefner replace the old porcelain-metal crown with an all-ceramic crown, and then having porcelain veneers on the rest of her visible upper teeth.

Beautiful smile created for Martha, taking years off of her face

As is obvious from the photo above, Martha's new smile with cosmetic dentistry turned out great! She was extremely pleased with the results and the efforts of Dr. Huefner's artistry.

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

Porcelain Veneers Create Sensational Smiles for Mark without Orthodontics

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000

Mark, a very successful businessman, had crooked, yellow and worn teeth. Dealing with clients and the public he became increasingly self conscious about the appearance of his smile. He had been told that braces would make his teeth straight, but as busy as he was going to the orthodontist for two years just wasn't an option that Mark would seriously consider. He realized that at the end he would have straight teeth, but they would still be worn, misshaped and discolored. Wasn't there a better or easier way to have a great smile?
After consulting with several cosmetic dentists, Mark came to get Dr. Huefner's opinion. Dr. Huefner listened carefully to Mark and after fully understanding his goals and expectations, did a preliminary smile design consultation.

Mark's crooked and worn teeth before cosmetic dentistry

Fortunately, Mark's teeth could be changed into a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers in just a few visits. But, Mark really wanted to have a good idea of the final results before he began treatment. Also, he wasn't sure how white he wanted his new teeth and if Dr. Huefner would create the teeth with the best shape for his face. Was there anyway that Mark could preview the results before treatment actually began?
Dr. Huefner assured Mark that he understood his concerns, as many of his patients had expressed the same thing. The answer, Dr. Huefner told Mark, was in the "trial smile", the "test drive" of the final porcelain veneers.
Briefly, Mark would walk out after his first treatment visit with Dr. Huefner with a great looking smile. But, that smile would not be his final smile, it would be plastic veneers, called the "trial smile" that Dr. Huefner could change or reshape according to Mark's wishes. Then when Mark gave Dr. Huefner his final approval, Dr. Huefner would instruct his master ceramist (who actually constructs the porcelain veneers) the precise design for each and every porcelain veneer....the length, shape, color, texture, translucency, opacity, etc.
After hearing that, Mark felt much more comfortable about proceeding with his treatment.

Mark's "trial smile"

As you might imagine from the photo above of Mark wearing his "trial smile", he was trilled with the amazing improvement. He gave is full approval of his "trial smile" design and final porcelain veneers were fabricated by Dr. Huefner's ceramist according to the design that Mark and Dr. Huefner specified.
End result, a very satisfied patient with a great smile achieved with porcelain veneers!
Dr. Norman Huefner, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA

Younger Rejuvenated Smile with Porcelain Veneers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Helen was a bit "age sensitive". Although only in her 40s she felt her smile made her look older than she really was. Her teeth were discolored, she had a old crown on one of her front teeth that didn't match her other teeth, her gums had receded and she had a small gap between her front two teeth.
She was "fed up" and came to see Dr. Huefner to discuss her options with cosmetic dentistry.

Helen felt her smile made her look older than she really was.

Dr. Huefner listened carefully to Helen as she explained her concerns and expectations. Basically she wanted a younger looking smile with whiter teeth. That brought up a very important point....how white did Helen want her teeth to be? Her answer was, "definitely whiter and brighter, but I still want a smile that looks real and doesn't fake or unnatural."
After looking at the photo above with Dr. Huefner, some other points came out. Her teeth were very skinny at the gumline and irregular in proportion to one another.
In order to give Helen the kind of smile that she wanted Dr. Huefner suggest replacing the crown on her front tooth with an all-ceramic crown and then doing porcelain veneers on the other teeth visible in her smile. By doing her cosmetic dentistry that way all the visible upper teeth would be the same color and Dr. Huefner would have the most control over achieving a well proportioned and even looking smile!
Helen agreed with Dr. Huefner's treatment recommendations and her cosmetic dental treatment was completed in three appointments.

Helen's rejuvenated smile with cosmetic dentistry - one new all-ceramic crown and nine porcelain veneers

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

Closing Gaps and Whitening a Smile with Porcelain Veneers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Charlotte didn't like the way her teeth looked. She had "gaps" (spaces) between several of her teeth and had a single porcelain cap on her front tooth that didn't match her other teeth. Also, she had multicolored teeth and had always wanted a bright, white smile!

Charlotte didn't like the spaces and discolored teeth.

After consulting with Dr. Huefner and explaining to him exactly the kind of smile she wanted, Charlotte asked if she would be a good candidate for porcelain veneers? Would that solve the problems she didn't like about her teeth and smile?

Actually, Charlotte was perfect for porcelain veneers and replacing the single cap on her front tooth. Dr. Huefner could make her visible teeth all the same color, fill the gaps, make the teeth younger looking and in better proportion.

Charlotte after replacing the front cap with an all ceramic crown and placing porcelain veneers on the other teeth to fill the gaps and give her a bright, white smile!

From beginning to end, Charlotte cosmetic dental treatment took three appointments and was completed in three weeks. As you can see from the photo above, Charlotte was very happy with the end results of the smile created by Dr. Huefner.

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

Smile Makeover for Betty with Porcelain Bridge and Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:03:00 +0000

As a young girl Betty knocked out one of her front teeth when she tripped while playing soccer. Her dentist made her a bridge which served her well for fifteen years. The only problem was SHE HATED THE WAY IT LOOKED!

Betty hated her old porcelain-metal bridge.

She came to Dr. Huefner because she was engaged and wanted a beautiful smile for her wedding. Betty had been thinking about how she didn't like the way her front teeth and bridge looked for years and had very specific things in mind for her new smile. She didn't just want a new porcelain bridge replaced to match her other teeth, she wanted a bright, white smile and "perfect teeth". This meant that other teeth would needs some help as well.

Dr. Huefner suggested replacing the old bridge a newer material called e-max which doesn't contain any silver or gold metal underneath. He also recommended placing porcelain veneers on her other teeth. This way all the teeth would have the same bright, white color and also would allow Dr. Huefner to make them the optimum shape and length.

Betty's new smile with an e-max porcelain bridge and porcelain veneers

The final results were incredible and Betty absolutely loved the whiter, more natural and youthful smile that Dr. Huefner created for her.

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

Stunning smile for Paulette with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner, Orange County Cosmetic Dentist

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Paulette, an attractive lady in her 40s, was unhappy with the way her teeth looked. She had braces when she was a child, but her teeth had shifted and worn down over the years. Also, she just didn't like the fact that her teeth turned darker and more yellow as she was getting older.

Paulette's smile before cosmetic dentistry

She made an appointment with Dr. Huefner for a cosmetic dentistry consultation, wanting do discuss her options. After carefully listening to Paulette and her concerns, and then examining her teeth, Dr. Huefner recommended porcelain veneers to give Paulette the kind of smile that she wanted.

Paulette after porcelain veneers by Dr. Huefner

Above is the stunning smile created for Paulette by Dr. Huefner with porcelain veneers.

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

Porcelain Veneers Used to Correct Crooked Smiles by Dr. Huefner, Orange County Cosmetic Dentist

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:21:00 +0000

There have been many interesting studies with regard to the perception of facial beauty and what they determined was that facial symmetry was much more important than individual features. Since teeth and the person’s smile are the strongest focus area (where your attention is drawn when speaking to or looking at), the symmetry of a smile is incredibly important!

Unfortunately, most people have at least some inherent asymmetry: one eye might be slightly higher than the other, the nose might be off center, and sometimes one side of the face is longer than the other. With regards to the smile, lips that move higher or lower on one side than the other or show more teeth on one when the person speaks or smiles is an important thing for the cosmetic dentist to be aware of prior to beginning any smile enhancement procedures like porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Most of the time this isn’t a significant problem, but for others, like this patient of mine, her crooked smile really bothered her.

Note how the teeth all point down to her lower right (her right is on the left of the photo), as seen from the five black lines. Also, that the bottom edges of the teeth cant (lean to one side) as well, as seen on the red line. Together, these all threw off her smile and detracted considerably from much of the beauty of her face.

To make things more interesting, this patient had some old dentistry that she didn’t like. The teeth and gums appeared as having different lengths. She wanted a whiter, brighter smile that would be even and symmetrical and offset her facial asymmetries. So, taking all aspects and features of her face in consideration here is the beautiful result we achieved with porcelain veneers and a new all-ceramic bridge (replacing her old-fashioned porcelain-to-metal bridge).

I can’t emphasize enough that in order to create a superb smile and result like this necessitated I pay particular attention to all of her facial features. I fine tuned the gum symmetry and length, shape of the teeth using provisional (temporary) restorations, which allowed her to “test drive” her new smile first. After achieving her full approval at this stage I was able to give my ceramist very specific and precise instructions on how to complete the final porcelain veneers and bridge. End result: A VERY SATISFIED AND HAPPY PATIENT!

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

Porcelain Veneers and Smile Design, Part I by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:11:00 +0000

When considering cosmetic dentistry and a smile makeover what is the perfect “smile style” for your new porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns? In previous articles I discussed that there are over 30,000 different ways that a cosmetic dentist can create a new smile and that there are over 60 different documented “smile styles” available for cosmetic dentists to use as guide and to better communicate with to the cosmetic dental patient and the dental ceramist. In this article we’ll discuss one of the most popular “smile guides”, Dr. William Dickerson’s “LVI Smile Library”. I am particularly fond of this library, as I started my advanced cosmetic training at Dr. Dickerson’s prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies over a decade ago. And since then, following many of the concepts I learned under his tutelage, I’ve done several thousand porcelain veneers and cosmetic crowns, created sensational smiles for hundreds of my patients. 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, square at one corner and rounded at the other, or rounded at both corners. Similarly, the cuspids or eye teeth (third tooth back) could be pointed, rounded or flat. Combining these different shapes each produces a uniquely different smile style. 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”.

For most females, the “Enhanced” smile style is one of our most popular designs. Note that the second teeth from the center are a little shorter than the front teeth. This is a youthful effect we call “the gull wing” that really looks nice on females. The “Hollywood” style above is a little more “toothy” and works well for males and especially those wanting to show off a little more teeth. The “Oval” style might look best on someone with a very round face. Notice how very round the edges of the four front teeth are? The “Aggressive” style has tooth edges that are flat almost straight across. We use it mostly for men and it simulates someone who might be a bit older and have a habit of grinding his teeth. The “Youthful” style simulates the shape of unworn teeth that might be seen in a 14 year old. Although many adults like this name because they think it might give them the illusion of being significantly younger, we almost always utilize this design in much younger individuals. The “Mature” style has squarish edges on the four front teeth and is another design that we frequently use for men. The “Softened” style is a very popular design that we use for those wanting their smile to help make them appear a little younger than their years. It is my preference to use smile designs that have the cuspids (also called canines, the third teeth back on each side) that are slightly round, not flat (too old looking) or pointed (too aggressive looking). It is important that both the patient and cosmetic dentist actively discuss the different smile styles at the beginning of the smile makeover process. 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.

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

How a Cosmetic Dentist Chooses the Perfect Length Porcelain Veneers or Crowns for Your Sensational New Smile by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:06:00 +0000

When it comes to your teeth and smile the length of your teeth, especially your front two teeth, is a very important aspect on 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. Like the story about the Three Bears, 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 producing an older looking smile. 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” sounds. If the patient says the word “fifty-five” 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” 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

Unbelievable Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers for Gerald by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Gerald is a very shy, kind and soft-spoken man. He was at a point in his life that he realized that it was time for some self-improvement and his teeth and smile were some of the things that were holding him back. He was changing careers and dating and realized that he had to get his smile in shape. A year ago Dr. Huefner had done a smile makeover for one of Gerald's friends, and Gerald wanted to consult with Dr. Huefner to see if he was a candidate for cosmetic dentistry and porcelain veneers.

BEFORE COSMETIC DENTISTRY: Gerald knew it was time that he did something about the appearance of his teeth and smile.

At his cosmetic dentistry consultation Dr. Huefner asked Gerald what he wanted to change about his smile. His answer was that he wanted a great smile, and would leave it to Dr. Huefner to create the best smile possible for him. Usually patient's aren't as trusting as Gerald and want more input into the design of the porcelain veneers.

One of the things that Dr. Huefner had to find out from Gerald was "how white" did he want his teeth? After all, his teeth were very dark and Dr. Huefner wanted to make sure that Gerald would feel comfortable having his teeth made several shades whiter. Again, Gerald said he would leave it up to Dr. Huefner.

Dr. Huefner said he appreciated Gerald's confidence, but he had to make sure that Gerald approved of the color before doing his cosmetic dentistry. The solution to this was for Dr. Huefner to create temporary veneers of Gerald in the size, length, shape and color that Dr. Huefner thought would look best. Then Dr. Huefner would place the temporary veneers, or "trial smile", on Gerald's teeth and let him "test drive" the new smile before fabricating the permanent porcelain veneers for him. This was done and Gerald loved the design created for him and the permanent porcelain veneers were then crafted by Dr. Huefner's master ceramist Dave Stohlman.

AFTER: Gerald's new smile with porcelain veneers by Dr. Huefner

As you might imagine, Geral was absolutely thrilled with his smile makeover with porcelain veneers. Not only did he look healthier and more professional, but people also commented that he looked 10 years younger!

Gerald looked ten years younger with his new smile makeover by Dr. Huefner.

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

Most Comfortable Way to Have Your Dentistry Done - Oral Sedation Dentistry by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:05:00 +0000

What is Oral Sedation Dentistry?

In general we utilize two oral medications in the benzodiazepine class, which are among the safest and most widely prescribed medications used today in the United States.

The first medication is one that you will take the night BEFORE your dental appointment. It is called Diazepam and its purpose is to give you a good night’s sleep and reduce the amount of medication you’ll take at the dental office.

You are not allowed to eat or drink anything the morning of your dental appointment, and will need a responsible person to drive you to Dr. Huefner’s office. When you arrive you’ll be relaxed and will be escorted to your treatment room. There Dr. Huefner will evaluate you and determine how much medication to give you. The second medication, the one use on the morning of your dental appointment is most commonly Triazolam. It is a small blue pill taken about 1 hour before your dentistry begins. This tablet has been prescribed over 10 million times per year, by physicians, for patient’s use at home. The drug has almost no side effects or interaction with other medicines you may currently be taking. There are other medications that Dr. Huefner might be used instead of Triazolam, like Ativan, Hydroxizine or Sonata. However, Triazolam is generally the medication of choice because of its excellent sedative and hypnotic qualities.

Dr. Huefner will monitor your pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, and give you the second medication in the dental office. You’ll relax in a dimly lit room under a warm, cozy blanket. After an hour you’ll feel very tired, relaxed and comfortable, however you will not be put to sleep. When you are completely comfortable Dr. Huefner and his skilled team will do your dentistry. When your treatment is done and your sedation has worn off, your companion will drive you home. You’ll feel as if you slept through the morning and won’t have much memory at all of the dentistry that you had.

What are the Benefits or Oral Sedation Dentistry?
It is amazing because oral sedation dentistry allows you to comfortably undergo everything from a simple cleaning to extensive treatment. One of the most important benefits of the medicine that Dr. Huefner uses is that they have an amnesia quality which for most patients, tends to prevent almost any memory of the visit. Oral sedation dentistry is sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry” because of this and its other pleasant affects, however you are not actually put to sleep.

Other benefits of oral sedation dentistry are:

It enhances effectiveness of anesthetic.
It decreases gagging.
It decreases joint and muscle soreness.
Allows more treatment to be provided in a shorter time, which could decrease total number of visits.

How Long Does Oral Sedation Last?
For most patients, the effects of dental sedation last between 2-4 hours, so we require you to have someone drive you home.

Am I Really Asleep?
Many call it sleep dentistry because most patients do tend to fall asleep just a little. However that is not our goal. We will keep you at a level of sedation where you can still respond to verbal commands. This has been such a comfortable way of doing dentistry that not surprisingly even the most apprehensive patients have been elated with the results.

Safety
We constantly monitor each sedation patient with a computerized computerized state-of-the-art oral sedation monitors. We measure your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation the entire time. To be completely safe we also have a reversal agent on hand that reverses the effect of the sedation medicine in less than 30 seconds. We are very excited about being able deliver this extremely comfortable type of dentistry to Orange County. This safe, comfortable and relaxing oral sedation method is a blessing for our patients.

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

Choosing the Perfect Shaped Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Anyone considering cosmetic dentistry with porcelain veneers should be aware that there are different ways that they could be made, right? But how many different ways and how does one choose the best design and shape for their face and smile? There are approximately 25 different shades (colors), three different surface textures (how the light reflects off of the front of the veneers), several different porcelain types which each has different translucencies (ability of the light to pass through the veneer to render a “life-like” appearance), several different lengths and shapes that each veneer/tooth could be made and at least 60 different documented smile styles. Do the math and you’ll note that there are probably 30,000 different ways that your cosmetic dentist could create your new smile. This can be pretty confusing. So how do you know you’re getting the best combination for your face and smile?

Mrs. U.S.-Globe Jill Frick and her “Enhanced” smile style with ten porcelain veneers by Dr. Huefner.
The short answer is for you and your cosmetic dentist to communicate on a very high level so that your expectations can be met. Your cosmetic dentist wants your input because he/she certainly wants you to love your new smile. Success is dependent on the skill, care and judgment of the dentist, but also on the ability of both the patient and dentist to communicate and work together on deciding key issues. This article concentrates on one of the huge variables that there is, choosing the smile style. Most cosmetic dentists will involve the patient in this selection process, but offering input and suggestions to help guide the patient in the selection based on the shape of the face, age, personality type and other factors. There are three commonly used “smile guides” that cosmetic dentists have available to them to show patients. Dr. William Dickerson’s “LVI Smile Library” (12 different styles), Dr. Loren Berland’s “Loren Library” (18 different styles) and Dr. William Dorfman’s “The Smile Guide” (36 different styles). One question a patient might ask their cosmetic dentist is which smile guide does he use and specifically what smile style does he recommend? If the dentist is experienced in cosmetic dentistry you should be able to see one of these guides and the cosmetic dentist should discuss by name a smile style that he/she advises using. There are different acceptable variations in shape that each porcelain veneer can be made. For example, the four front teeth (incisors) could be either square at the corners, square at one corner and rounded at the other, or rounded at both corners. Similarly, the cuspids or eye teeth (third tooth back) could be pointed, rounded or flat. Combining these different shapes each produces significantly different smile styles. Here are three examples from the Loren Library:

The design above is round, round, pointed. It is very youthful and oftentimes used when the patient has a very round face.

The above is a design quite the opposite, square, square, flat. It is a much older and oftentimes much more masculine smile style.

This one is in between the first two, being square, square-round, round, and is a very popular design.
Here are two popular smile styles from the Dickerson “LVI Smile Library”:

This is the “Enhanced” smile style, very popular with many of the beauty pageant contestants that I’ve created porcelain veneers for over the years. Note that the second teeth from the center are a little shorter than the front teeth. This is a youthful effect we call “the gull wing” that really looks nice on females. See first photo in this article with of Mrs. U.S.-Globe and the “Enhanced” smile style I used with her 10 porcelain veneers.

The “Hollywood” style above is a little more “toothy” and works well for males and especially those wanting to show off a little more teeth.
It is important that both the patient and cosmetic dentist be aware of the differences in tooth shapes and smile styles and have active communication between each other in choosing the best smile style for the patient’s new porcelain veneers.

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

Smile makeover for a More Professional Appearance with Porcelain Veneers by Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Women aren't the only ones who appreciate having a nice smile. About one third of patients having smile makeovers and cosmetic dentistry today are men.
Porcelain veneers are many times the best solution for many patients who have discolored, chipped and otherwise unattractive teeth and are seeking a more professional appearance. This gentleman was a perfect example of that situation. He also wanted a more youthful appearance, slightly longer teeth that also had a whiter porcelain color (“Hollywood white”). On the right you can see the photo of his porcelain veneers and as you might guess, he was absolutely thrilled with the results we achieved for him.
BEFORE

AFTER

It is extremely important that the patients become very involved in the color selection to be very satisfied with the ultimate results. In our cosmetic practice we will make suggestions as to what color veneers will look best in our opinion, but it is the patients who have the final decision.

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

Sensational Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers by Orange County Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Huefner

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Norman Huefner) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Amber's crooked and disheveled smile was really starting to embarrass her. She is a very attractive lady in her early 50s and her smile certainly didn't go with the rest of her image. She was ready for a "new smile" and wanted to learn what cosmetic dentistry might be able to do for her.
The first cosmetic dentistry consultation is generally just a fact finding appointment, the patient wanting to find out what possible treatments can be done and if he/she like and trust the cosmetic dentist. The first three questions Dr. Huefner asked of Amber were "How can I help you?", "What do you want changed about your smile?" and "What kind of smile do you want?"
She pretty much knew what she wanted. Her teeth were crooked, and she wanted them straight. Her teeth were discolored, and she wanted them whiter. She had several discolored fillings, and she didn't want her fillings to show. Her teeth had worn down and showed the effects of age, and she wanted slightly longer and more youthful, feminine looking teeth.
Amber's smile before cosmetic dentistry
Amber had bridges and crowns on her back side teeth that she wanted replaced as well, but she didn't want to do that until later. Thus her goals were to first restore her front teeth, giving her a great smile, and later to do her side teeth. Dr. Huefner assured her that he could do her treatment that way if she preferred.
After much discussion and consideration Dr. Huefner recommended that Amber have porcelain laminate veneers on her front teeth. Then later she could have porcelain veneers on her side teeth that would also replace her fillings. Along with that she could later replace her back bridges and crowns.
After discussing the design features that Dr. Huefner recommended for her front teeth (size, shape, length, color, texture and translucency), Amber was pleased to learn that her new smile for her front teeth could be completed in less than three weeks.
Below is the completed smile makeover with porcelain veneers that Dr. Huefner did for Amber's front six teeth.

Amber's new smile with porcelain veneers by Dr. Huefner
Dr. Norman Huefner, Cosmetic and General Dentistry, Laguna Niguel, CA