Conservative Smile Makeover

A conservative smile makeover is sometimes unsatisfactory. While it is not uncommon to treat MANY teeth when doing a complete smile makeover, sometimes we can be creative to be conservative. Combining treatments can give a fantastic outcome, if not ideal. Most people, when making over their smile, want whiter teeth, better shapes, and better alignment. This led to the process commonly called “ABB”, or “Align, Bleach, and Bond.”

In this case shared here, instead of “bonding” (a term often incorrectly used to describe composite tooth colored material bonded to teeth), there were 3 veneers already in place, the two front upper centrals, and the lower lateral (looks short, making an uneven gumline).

Simply remaking the veneers wouldn’t be enough, the color wasn’t bright enough, so whitening of the other teeth was needed. But the lower tooth situation wouldn’t be solved simply by replacing the veneer, and contouring the gums wouldn’t last due to the alignment. The existing veneer on the lower tooth was driving the patient crazy due to how thick it was to make it “appear” in alignment so the tooth needed to move (or be extracted and a bridge or implant placed, a pretty extreme option).

When given the option of braces AGAIN (earlier in life, orthodontic treatment had been completed), the patient was reluctant (nice way of saying REF– USED). But the idea of an Inman Aligner, for less cost and less time, was a game changer. Gentle movement with a removable device allowed the tooth to move into place in a matter of weeks.

Once in alignment, a single veneer was need to finish the case. With some laser contouring of the gums and a final retainer, our patient had a new smile: Whiter, straighter, and more ideal shapes.
And saved THOUSANDS of dollars.