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Recipe for Your Smile
New technology combined with old-fashioned care yields a beautiful result.
In today’s impersonal world, it’s comforting to know that
some top health care providers still offer attentive, highly personalized
care. Sander I. White, DDS, wouldn’t have it any other way. Although
he is trained in the fine art of cosmetic dentistry, he knows that offering
state-of-the-art technique and technology is not enough. He also takes
the time to understand his patients’ desires and concept of beauty.
It’s a collaborative effort that produces the results they expect.
“Many dentists are trained in the latest techniques, but techniques
are only tools that we use to achieve what the patient wants,” he
explains. “First we talk about the concerns that need to be addressed.
Then we discuss how to do it.”
The process actually begins before the patient reaches the office with the initial phone call. Meticulous attention to courtesy and friendliness always help make for a good start. Once the patient arrives in the office, information is gathered to assemble a personality profile. This helps Dr. White “tune in” to the person’s style and begin to understand the person’s likes and dislikes.
A careful examination is conducted and Dr. White discusses problem areas and reviews photos of beautiful teeth. Dr. White will often solicit the input of his staff or of a patient’s spouse or trusted friend to make sure of understanding the desired result. Then, in a step that surprises most patients, Dr. White actually creates a sculpture of these desired changes on a model of the patient’s own mouth. This allows them to see what the size, shape or contour of their teeth will look like. In effect he creates an artist’s rendering or and architectural model.
“Sometimes the results need some fine tuning. The patient will suggest making one tooth a little shorter or turning it a little. Understanding the problems ahead of time and coming to an agreement about what should be done makes everyone more relaxed,” says Dr. White.
“We can take almost any defect and improve it. But by performing the procedure on a plaster model first, we know ahead of time what can be done.”
Many of Dr. White’s new patients are living with the results of decades-old dentistry. When they come to him with an apologetic attitude, he does not point fingers. “Dentistry used to be much less sophisticated than it is today,” he explains kindly. “When we look into patients mouths and see things we are tempted to call unsightly, we must remember that at the time, it was the best the profession of dentistry could do. Technology marches on, and those who are conscientious learn and move ahead.”
Dentistry has advanced dramatically, making it possible to change the teeth in ways never dreamed of just a decade ago. Instead of merely fixing decay, dentists like Dr. White concentrate on procedures that change the color, shape, size or surface texture of the teeth. This allows people to have the smile they always wanted, whether it means a minor procedure or a dental makeover. .
Frequently prescribed procedures include porcelain veneers (which are thin covers that are bonded to the outside surface of a tooth) and porcelain crowns (which are complete covers for teeth). Dr. White usually recommends the use of porcelain over plastic materials because porcelain does not change color or lose its beautiful luster. When a patient asks for bright, white teeth, Dr. White becomes a consultant and a teacher. “Teeth are not naturally white. The color of a tooth is defined by its hue, chroma and value. The true hue or color is a complex mix of varying shades of grey, brown, yellow and orange,” he explains. “These subtleties of color give the tooth a rich appearance. We will do whatever the patient wants, of course, but I personally like teeth to look so natural that no one knows anything artificial has been done.
Chroma – the intensity of color, and value – the degree of color brilliance, also contribute to a tooth’s lifelike quality. Because these qualities are so difficult to describe, Dr. White often creates a watercolor rendering of the desired appearance. This enables his patient to see and approve of the final selection before it is sent off to the laboratory to match in porcelain.
Shape, length and size are other considerations that affect function as well as appearance. Bite is affected by the length and size of teeth, which must function together in harmony with the jaw joints. “Sometimes we have to caution the patient not to do cosmetic dentistry until their overall dental health can support the result. Otherwise, their natural teeth can break,” he says.
Shape also changes the way the lips lay. Teeth that are too big or too prominent can make the lips look puffy and teeth that are too long or too short can create a speech defect, so we also have to work with the patient’s speech pattern,” says Dr. White.
With all these considerations in mind, it’s no wonder that Dr. White spends a lot of time with each patient before the work is actually performed. The results are worth it.
“My patients enter into a cosmetic procedure knowing what the results will be. At the end, they are pleased,” says Dr. White. “That makes both of us very happy.”
