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by Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD of The Healthy Smile
It used to be that only the Lone Ranger and bank robbers wore masks. Those “thrilling days of yesteryear” are gone. Everyone is wearing a mask these days. Those who aren’t should be wearing one. Despite this fact, my patient did not want to walk around without his front teeth. His mask comes off when home and when he eats. He didn’t like the look of no teeth. No teeth connote either an infant or someone very old. Most of us will not pass the infant test, which leaves extreme age on the table. Despite our age, none of us want to look old.
If removal of our front teeth is part of the procedure, very few people relish the fact of walking around with no front teeth. Everyone fears the absence of teeth during a denture or partial denture process. Being toothless is the furthest from the truth (or should I say “tooth”). Whether I use conventional techniques or a new digital approach, the days of missing front teeth during a procedure are a thing of the past.
When I leave your front teeth in your mouth for as long as possible, I benefit also. Information regarding the shape and position of the teeth in relation to your face is invaluable to me. I look to see if the teeth are in the center of your head; I look to see how much tooth shows under your lip; I look to see how these teeth relate to your bottom teeth. Recording all of these facts is vital to a great look in our final product. If you or I don’t like something on your teeth, we can change that look in your new teeth.
Let me discuss the two methods for keeping your front teeth in place until I have an immediate replacement. The first method is a traditional method, while the second technique harnesses the power of new technology. Both will work. In certain aspects, the conventional way may leave fewer issues as time passes, but it involves more appointments. More appointments are not necessarily a bad thing unless traveling to the office is an issue.
The traditional approach involves removing all the teeth that do not show when you smile and letting those areas heal. Once the healing process takes place, we take final impressions for the teeth. We see you for a series of try-in appointments and checks verify accuracy. All this time, your smile is intact. On the day that I remove the teeth, I deliver the new denture. The digital method is quicker. We scan and take pictures of your teeth and bite. These pictures go to the laboratory where they make your new teeth. We leave all the teeth removal for one day and present your new teeth.
Using both techniques that I have outlined, your smile and cosmetic integrity are not hindered or impaired in any way. Even though we wear a mask in public, we show our smiles when we are home with our families. When we stand in front of a mirror, we see our teeth. I make sure that your smile cosmetics is not compromised, no matter which avenue I take to create your new smile.
If the thought of being without your front teeth has held you back from having needed dental treatment, I hope that this column will ease your anxieties. If you have any more concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 440.892.1810. I will answer them for you as best as I can.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.
The Healthy Smile • 27239 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH 44140 • 440-892-1810 • www.jeffreygrossdds.com
