A Smile Makeover explained by Smile Artistry

I am Dr Paul McKay and this is Smile Artistry's first blog post for www.asksmileartistry.com.au

Today we are talking with Dr John Bacalakis a Cosmetic Dentist at Smile Artistry, Dr Graham McKay an experienced Cosmetic Dentist at Smile Artistry, and Dental Hygienist Eliza.

Today we are talking about our latest featured Brisbane News Article featuring a beautiful case performed by Dr Graham McKay with assistance from Dr John Bacalakis and Hygienist Eliza.

Dr Paul McKay - Graham can you tell us about the patient and how the patient presented into the practice?

Dr Graham McKay  – This patient presented as a patient of about 400-500 patients that we have helped with their smile presentation.,  This patient had a smile presentation that was did not augment her personality.  She was concerned with the teeth she showed and their aged presentation.  We go through a program where we assess things and we found her general biology and health issues and gum health and we found her gum health was reasonably good.   After we looked through those aspects, her decay rate was low and there were no fillings on her front teeth, only tooth wear and erosion.  She had had orthodontics at 16 years of age.  Unfortunately the alignment of her eye teeth did not protect her grinding. And as a result in her assessment we needed to assess how to correct this.

Her treatment at first involved a Gum-lift, which was able to reduce the tissue display and we then found her arch width was narrow and needed widening.   We then did some whitening and took some models.  In our onsite laboratory we were able to wax a diagnostic wax-up to perform and plan the work in a predictable manner.  The technicians Peter and Peter both worked on this case.

Because we were re-constructing her bite we recreate that canine function to rejuvenate the teeth, and because there were no fillings veneers may have been appropriate, but because there was previous grinding wear, Porcelain crowns were used to increase the strength of the restorations. 

The case was done in one sessions.  The provisional crowns were placed for three weeks while the permanent porcelain crowns were constructed.  The final session for this lady was a wonderful transformation because its augmented her wonderful personality.  The technician Peter did a wonderful job when he did this and we are very fortunate to have such a skilled dental laboratory onsite.

Dr Paul McKay – and tell us also with the case, that isn’t the final result, this patient was a bruxer, so tell us about how we can give a guarantee with this case?

Dr Graham McKay – In this particular case, as were constructed the canine guidances we have recreated the function of the bite to separate during the movements of the teeth as they fit against each other.  We can now say predictably in most positions she cannot now wear those teeth anymore.  She can still be a bruxer though, and with her right angled shaped jaw, this is commonly associated with bruxers.  For these patients we also recommend and construct a night-time guard to protect during sleeping.  As Eliza will say, the long-term maintenance of this case is important through good oral care and regular check-up and cleaning appointments at six monthly appointments.  We check the splint at checkups.

Dr Paul McKay – A question for Dr John Bacalakis, you have had a lot of experience with the newer zirconia porcelain materials for porcelain crowns, bridges and dental implant teeth, can you tell us about the great aesthetic properties of the new materials?

Dr John Bacalakis - As you have highlights Dr Paul McKay, typically in the past the old technologies involved the use of metal under the crown, but with the new zirconia based crowns it allows for a white inside the crown it allows a lot more cosmetic result.  It has gotten rid of the old grey margins of crowns.

Dr Paul McKay - A question for Dental Hygienist Eliza, Can you tell us about your role in the treatment of this patient?

Dental Hygienist Eliza - Firstly my role was to assess and stabilise the gum health for the patient’s cosmetic dental procedures.  I was also required to discuss and provide tooth sensitivity treatments and finally provide teeth whitening services.

In the long-role may role involves ensuring the new teeth remain healthy, the gums remain healthy and clean, and the teeth whitening on particularly the lower teeth is maintained over time.

Dr Paul McKay – I agree, So today we have discussed a fantastic case.

Dr Graham Mckay – This case was performed three years ago and looks fantastic.  We would expect with such a high level of planning and correct treatment programs, this result will last for 20 years.

Dr Paul McKay – This result is looking fantastic three years on. 

Come and check back in a few weeks to listen about a new case again.