Show #430 Airing Sunday, 4/20/08
Out with the old, in with the new. Yes, it’s spring-cleaning time. But this year, why not include a bright fresh smile to complement your refreshed home? Here to explain is our always fresh thinking Dr. Steven Marsh.
Question: Spring seems to inspire folks to clean up, inside and out. What reasons do people give for wanting to "clean up" their smile?
Answer: The typical GO viewer who comes into my office may have had dental work done over 10, 20 or 30 years. Now the work is old, and it’s often time to replace it. Sometimes, the replacement has begun in a patchwork manner, but sometimes it’s time for a more thorough makeover.
Think of a roof—you can patch it over for some length of time but it can reach the point where you really need a complete new roof. So people often come in ready for that.
Also, this time of year, the winter blahs are gone and people feel the need to spruce up. It’s time to clean up the house, and also the mouth.
Question: Let's continue your roof analogy. People generally replace a roof to prevent leaks, conserve energy of some other substantive reasons apart for aesthetics. But are there any health benefits to a smile makeover?
Answer: Yes. Deteriorating fillings, cracks can lead to more decay. Shifting teeth can cause bite problems, which can lead to eating problems and jaw pain.
Question: How do you decide where to begin?
Answer: We start with an exam. We take x-rays and impressions to create models. We then sit down and talk about what the patient needs to improve health and avoid deterioration. And we also discuss aesthetics, what the person hopes to achieve in the makeover, especially when it’s an extensive one—we need to map out what we want to do.
We decide what they want to invest in the smile—we establish that at the start so that there are no financial surprises. Once we get started, we usually can complete a makeover pretty quickly.
Question: You've brought some examples of makeovers done on GO viewers with you. Let's take a look.
Answer: This first example is actually not completed yet. The patient is out in public a lot and was concerned about his temporary look while he was waiting for the final crowns and veneers. These are the temporaries that I made in my office for him, and they look great.
This patient wanted a fresher look. You can see that her “before” is not terrible—there are different levels of makeovers. However, she had heard about veneers and was interest in them. You can see the result is beautiful—white and pretty teeth.
This woman is in her 70s and had old dental work done about 30 years ago. We have complete the upper teeth and will now be moving onto the lower.
This patient had many old crowns on his upper teeth, and you can see that the black metal rims are showing. He also had worn down his lower teeth. And you can see the extreme result from his makeover.
You too can spring in to action to refresh your smile. It’s good for your health, and your appearance. To learn more, give Dr. Marsh a call at the number that’s next.
