Dennis Mihalka D.D.S. - Life Smile

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry covers a very wide spectrum of images and it is totally dependent upon the eye of the beholder...both in what is seen and what is thought to be important.

Studies report that men and women consider a smile to be the most important physical feature. This fact is driving more people to pursue their optimum smile.

Let’s talk about what they see...

...the key components others see in a smile

• Lips - the picture frame
• Teeth - the picture
• Gum Tissues - the matte around the picture

All three play very important roles.

Lips can be full to very thin.

Today, society is leaning toward a fuller look, which is being addressed with Botox® and other substance injections to create this appearance. So far, this solution is not long term, as re-injection is needed in less than a year. At this time, long-term solutions for lip enhancement are yet to be presented. To emphasize lips, lipstick and lip liners (some permanent) are used to enhance this look.

A fairly common challenge to an otherwise beautiful smile is a large show of gums, or what is called a "gummy smile".

• Excessive gum show is distracting and is a function of lips, which pull up high during a smile. This is an individual situation and needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Several approaches, or a combination thereof, include surgically lifting the gums around the teeth, surgically tacking the lip to limit its upward movement and surgery to reposition the upper jaw.
• To determine the best solution for each situation would require a thorough evaluation.

Studies have been made that report what the general public considers an acceptable amount of gum show before impacting the impression of a smile. Too much gum show can be a result of the high lip rise. However; it can also be as simple as a thicker band of gums covering the teeth. This is a very successfully resolved with conservative trimming of gum tissue to improve the length of teeth as well as reduces the amount of gum display.

Irregular levels of gum tissue over individual teeth can also be distracting. Usually this is caused by irregular alignment of teeth and is usually corrected with orthodontics. If, by chance, it is a localized anomaly, then it can be easily corrected with gum contouring.

The key to the impact of gums on the smile is totally dependent upon the overall perception of the beholder. Some issues are red flags, while others blend with the features smile and have no impact. Consultation with a dentist experienced in evaluating and treating patients with challenged smiles can help a patient’s concerns and treatment modalities available to help create a great-looking smile.

Recognizing that a smile can be greatly impacted by the picture frame...the teeth are considered to be the most important part of a smile. The obvious issues, straight or crooked, broken, worn, decayed, mismatched crowns or fillings, irregular shapes and sizes, midline discrepancies and missing teeth all greatly influence a smile's appearance.

Crooked teeth are corrected with minor tooth movement or full orthodontic care. Broken teeth can be beautifully restored with bonding, veneers, or crowns. Each treatment option has specific applications dictated by expectations and functional consideration.

• The same treatment can be applied to the other issues that challenge a smile.
• A very conservative approach, and sometimes the most rewarding, is when teeth that are too long or irregular in shape can be corrected with selective grinding and polishing. This is accomplished by a dentist with expertise in Smile Design and experience in using this little known approach in making smiles the best that they can be.

A very exciting area of dentistry is the use of implants to replace missing teeth. New developments in materials and design of implants and the crowns placed on them are allowing imperceptible and beautifully matched restorations.

• Customized root forms with carefully designed crowns on implants create contours that stimulate natural looking gums that blend with adjacent teeth and gums.
• Although each case brings with it challenges, a professional who has a track record of being able to resolve compromised situations and create beautiful solutions is critical to helping patients achieve the Smile of their Dreams.

The simplest, most dramatic and cost-effective smile enhancement is whitening of teeth.To understand whitening, the cause of discolored teeth should be understood.

• Most generalized staining and discoloration of teeth is due to foods and drinks that penetrate the outer layers of enamel and leave behind various stains. These are generally superficial and easily whitened with solutions of hydrogen peroxide, which are most effectively applied with custom fitting trays coated with a gel and placed over the teeth for several hours.
• Individual, dark teeth typically are the result of a large, leaking filling or a "dead" tooth subsequently treated with a root canal. A dead tooth absorbs stains deeply and appears to be darker than the adjacent teeth. Such conditions are very effectively and efficiently treated with a combination of hydrogen peroxide compounds enhanced with ozone.

Regardless of the discoloration or cause, there are a number of treatments that can be used to enhance the beauty of individual teeth or all the teeth shown in a smile.

• Whitened teeth greatly enhance the beauty of a smile and this process is the least expensive and least invasive of all cosmetic procedures.

Most men and women want to have the Smile of their Dreams ...to look their best.

Dentistry today continues to create new solutions to common situations that compromise smiles. The advancements in the last ten years are profound and are making great smiles possible, even for the most difficult situations.

If you have concerns about your smile, it is very appropriate to consult with a dentist who is experienced (supported by the dentist’s own 'before' and 'after' photos), has a great eye for esthetics and has the ability to use all the tools that are available in this exciting time.

return to top

World Service

Each of us is blessed with talents and capability to serve others...those in great need.

The following is a brief description of activities in which we have had the opportunity to participate...

World Service

---