Video Website powered by Einstein IndustriesMartin & Winkler, D.D.S., P.C.

EMILE MARTIN, D.D.S.: Cosmetic dentistry or cosmetic surgery is a little different in that you elongate the teeth because they will be too short or if the patient has a gummy smile. It's for anyone who has a desire to make their smile look more attractive. You know, what my idea of what an attractive smile is and what a patient's idea of attractive smile is sometimes are different, and we have to have communication here so that I know what the patient wants so I can provide them with that. Sometimes we don't always get that, but most of the time, we're able to have a meeting of the minds where we can achieve clinically what they have in mind as far as their aesthetic result.

For patients who are interested in having smile design, it's possible to use veneers, either porcelain laminates or direct composite or plastic or white tooth color materials to change the angulations of their teeth, bulk them out in some cases without having to do a great deal of reduction to the teeth themselves. Now, that doesn't work for everybody, and sometimes you still end up doing crowns to create that smile design. But there are possibilities in today's world where you can do bonding or bonding type techniques with, again, with either direct material or the porcelain veneers to change a patient's smile line.

You might have to do a little bit of work to the natural teeth in terms of thinning them out, shortening them in order to be able to get those materials on, but you can do a great deal to enhance the patient's smile, which eventually, will enhance their self esteem and make them happier.