RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY

Here is a good example of phased treatment which addresses our patient's immediate concerns while at the same time allowing flexibility to address future needs.

This patient's most pressing concern was the wear on her upper front teeth, discoloration and chipping which had occurred over a number of years.  While there were other dental needs in other areas of her mouth, we needed to restore her upper front teeth first.

She desired a brighter shade, knowing that the new crowns across the front of her mouth would not match her older dental work in the back of her mouth.  When the treatment of several back teeth is completed, she will have the uniform, white shade she desires.

This was also an example of some of the compromises both I and the patient may chose to make during treatment.  I would have liked to perform a small "gum lift" across the upper two front teeth. Performing this procedure would have allowed me to even out the length of the two front teeth - notice how the gum lines are not at the same height.

Our patient declined this treatment because it is not a cosmetic concern in her case -she doesn't show the gum line area of the upper teeth when she smiles.