A 44-year-old female presented to the office with a chief complaint of “I want veneers”. She was displeased with the appearance of her worn down front teeth and wanted them longer. This patient had a history of requiring Botox injections for the TMJ due to heavy clenching, grinding her teeth, headaches, muscle pain and trouble sleeping. Records were taken and used to determine the cause of her TMJ disorder was occluso-muscle related, which means her bite was not lined up properly and her muscles were over-compensating. First, we decided to proceed with Invisalign treatment with an orthodontist to correct the mal-aligned teeth and improve the height of the gingiva. After nine months of Invisalign tray wear and drastic changes, we completed a second set of full records to plan how to restore the worn teeth and add more length. We had two options: place veneers or place composite resin. To preserve tooth structure, the patient chose the more conservative route and had composite resin placed on all her anterior teeth from canine to canine on the top and bottom. We achieved a beautiful result with flowable resin in a natural B1 shade and we adjusted her bite so that her teeth fit together like puzzle pieces. No more clenching or headaches! She is ecstatic about her new smile.
A 46-year-old male patient presented us with a recurring issue of his left central incisor breaking off despite multiple attempts by several dentists to cement it. The absence of a front tooth was causing him significant anxiety and social avoidance. It was crucial to figure out why his tooth kept breaking and prevent that from recurring.
We conducted a comprehensive assessment, including a full set of photographs, models, and bite registrations, and created a wax model to visualize the ideal structure and alignment of his teeth.
The patient was deeply committed to resolving his dental issues and even quit smoking before proceeding with the proposed treatment plan. This positive lifestyle change greatly contributed to the success of the final outcome.
With the help of an oral surgeon, we extracted the problematic left central incisor and placed an implant, giving us a four-month healing period before placing the final crowns. We decided to replace all the old crowns with new zirconia crowns for the upper teeth, extending from premolar to premolar, and for the lower teeth, from canine to canine. Although the midlines could not be adjusted due to the missing lower incisor, we enhanced the gingival level of the lower incisors using our Diode soft tissue laser. The patient also had retained a baby tooth on the lower left. We added white composite filling material to increase the height of the baby tooth so it can bite into the upper teeth.
Before designing the final crowns, we ensured that his temporomandibular joints (TMJ) were correctly positioned. The patient tested the temporary crowns for a few weeks to ensure comfort and fit. Time was of the essence and we were able to cement his final crowns and place his implant crown all in one day.
The result was outstanding, leaving the patient extremely pleased and unable to stop smiling!
A 46-year-old male patient presented us with a recurring issue of his left central incisor breaking off despite multiple attempts by several dentists to cement it. The absence of a front tooth was causing him significant anxiety and social avoidance. It was crucial to figure out why his tooth kept breaking and prevent that from recurring.
A 42-year-old male client came to our office dissatisfied with the dark colour of his lower front tooth and the appearance of his upper right central incisor. He was already undergoing Invisalign therapy with his orthodontist to correct his crowded bite. After completing the Invisalign treatment in one year, we were able to address the discoloration and misshaped teeth. We improved the brightness of his teeth by 2-3 shades using our ZOOM in-office professional whitening system. We also replaced some older composite resin fillings with new white fillings and polished them. Finally, we placed full-contour zirconia crowns on the upper central incisors and the lower lateral incisor, carefully matching them to the adjacent teeth for a natural look.
This female patient came to us expressing concerns about her existing veneers. The four areas that she wanted to have addressed were;
1. The veneers felt porous and rough and were no longer smooth like regular teeth.
2. One of the front teeth was chipped at the bottom.
3. The gum line imbalance between the left and right side of her smile was being exacerbated by recession that can occur over time.
4. The corridors of her smile on the left and right were more pronounced and darker.
An examination revealed that her existing veneer glaze had worn off and her gingival margins were at different heights. This gave the impression that one front tooth was bigger than the adjacent front tooth. She also had some recession on the anterior teeth causing root exposure and sensitivity.
As part of our treatment plan, a specialist performed crown lengthening surgery to correct the gingival height deficit so she could have a smooth gum line across the front teeth. After healing, we removed her existing veneers from canine to canine and replaced them with brighter veneers that fit to the new gum line. In order to broaden her smile and correct the dark corridors on the left and right, we added veneers to her premolar teeth.
Voila! She has a new smile!
1. The veneers felt porous and rough and were no longer smooth like regular teeth.
This 34 year old female presented to us feeling concerned about the look of her front teeth.
The examination showed that her teeth were chipping and she had a couple old fillings with cavities underneath.
We replaced the old fillings, changed the color to match her teeth better, and fixed the chipped edges. You can see what a difference changing only the two front teeth made.
She isn’t afraid to show off her smile anymore! Thank you for trusting us with your smile and your dental health.
This 39 year old female had previous anterior crowns placed and the gums were always red around the edges. She was not happy with her smile and Dr. Lim was not happy with the state of her gums. The pre-existing crowns extended too far beneath the gums, creating a constant source of inflammation and redness.
A periodontist (specialist of the gums) performed crown lengthening surgery on the upper front teeth to bring the gums higher up. Dr. Lim then removed the old crowns and made new ones to create a better fit next to the gums. She also chose a whiter shade to brighten her smile. Her final photo shows the redness around the gums has resolved and she loves her new smile.
A periodontist (specialist of the gums) performed crown lengthening surgery on the upper front teeth to bring the gums higher up. Dr. Lim then removed the old crowns and made new ones to create a better fit next to the gums. She also chose a whiter shade to brighten her smile. Her final photo shows the redness around the gums has resolved and she loves her new smile.
This 43 year old female presented to our office unhappy with the appearance of her existing veneers on the upper front 4 teeth. Her main concerns were that 1. The veneers were too short, 2. The teeth were not white enough, 3. The canine teeth were worn down, and 4. The lower front teeth were yellow.
She required a longer veneer shape and the addition of veneers on the canine teeth as well to create a more complete smile and hide the appearance of wear. We made these veneers brighter than the last ones but still natural looking. On the lower front teeth we added composite in a lighter shade to hide the yellow appearance of the worn teeth.
She required a longer veneer shape and the addition of veneers on the canine teeth as well to create a more complete smile and hide the appearance of wear. We made these veneers brighter than the last ones but still natural looking. On the lower front teeth we added composite in a lighter shade to hide the yellow appearance of the worn teeth.
A 43-year-old female presented to our office with a chief complaint that she was unhappy at her last office because of her veneers. She had them redone twice because they didn’t fit right and they were very cold and dark looking. She also said the front veneer was damaged and they tried to fix it but they left a dark mark.
The examination showed that the upper right central incisor did have a dark line in the center of it. The upper left lateral incisor had root exposure near the gumline. This patient is a heavy grinder at night and wears a nightguard to help. There were some areas with cavities and generalized wear that needed to be addressed first.
The treatment began with minor restorative work on the posterior teeth and study models to analyze the bite. We decided to go with full crowns on the 4 front teeth to give added strength as veneers would likely chip under the heavy grinding forces.
We seated the 4 anterior crowns successfully and chose a warmer shade of white to create a more natural looking smile. We made a new nightguard to help protect the existing crowns and prevent further damage and breakdown of her other teeth.
A 43-year-old female presented to our office with a chief complaint that she was unhappy at her last office because of her veneers. She had them redone twice because they didn’t fit right and they were very cold and dark looking. She also said the front veneer was damaged and they tried to fix it but they left a dark mark.
The examination showed that the upper right central incisor did have a dark line in the center of it. The upper left lateral incisor had root exposure near the gumline. This patient is a heavy grinder at night and wears a nightguard to help. There were some areas with cavities and generalized wear that needed to be addressed first.
The treatment began with minor restorative work on the posterior teeth and study models to analyze the bite. We decided to go with full crowns on the 4 front teeth to give added strength as veneers would likely chip under the heavy grinding forces.
We seated the 4 anterior crowns successfully and chose a warmer shade of white to create a more natural looking smile. We made a new nightguard to help protect the existing crowns and prevent further damage and breakdown of her other teeth.