A brilliant smile can mean a world of difference. If you were born with a perfect smile, then you may not notice that difference, but if the color, shape, or size of your teeth make you unhappy, then you may appreciate the change that a confident smile would bring to your quality of life. In some cases, the elements affecting your smile can do more than simply their appearance; issues such as TMJ dysfunction and a misaligned bite can cause physical discomfort, as well. These issues can also make correcting your smile more difficult—because they affect the foundation of your smile, these issues can render your cosmetic dental work useless. As cosmetic dentists in Fresno, Dr. Alex Denes and Dr. Claudia Denes have extensive experience in creating beautiful, functional smiles for patients with difficult dental conditions. Today, they explain how a full-mouth reconstruction can ease your dental discomfort and give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
Step 1: The Foundation of Your Smile
Before considering how you’d like your smile to look, Dr. Denes will first ensure that your mouth is healthy enough to support the makeover. As the foundation of your smile, your gums and jaw bones must be strong and healthy. If they are not (i.e., compromised by gum disease and/or poor oral hygiene), Dr. Denes will prescribe a periodontal treatment plan to bring them back to optimal health and strength. In some cases, they may involve a deep periodontal cleaning during which our doctors will thoroughly clear plaque and tartar from around and under your gumline. Depending on the severity of your gums’ illness, more extensive treatment may be necessary before your mouth can support a reconstruction.
Step 2: The Alignment of Your Smile
Another important consideration that can hinder your smile’s new look is the alignment of your teeth. Malocclusion, or misaligned teeth, can make your jaw work extra hard to close correctly when you eat or speak, which can strain your jaw muscles and joints (TMJs). The misalignment can also cause teeth to rub each other when they shouldn’t, which leads to excessive wear and possibly tooth sensitivity. Before cosmetic dentistry can begin, we will ensure that your alignment will not place your new smile at risk. Using advanced digital technology, our dentists can measure and record your bite to determine its degree of alignment. If realignment is needed, Dr. Denes will discuss your options for treating malocclusion.
Step 3: The Finishing Touches
Once your foundation is secure and your bite is correctly aligned, it is time to put the finishing touches on your smile makeover. Stained, crooked, chipped, broken, or oddly spaced teeth can be whitened, fixed, filled, and made whole to complete the smile of your dreams. Common cosmetic dental procedures involved in full mouth reconstruction include porcelain veneers, laser tooth whitening, dental implants, and many more. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, contact your Fresno cosmetic dentists by calling Fresno Dental Studio at (559) 297-1800. Located in the 93720 area, we proudly serve patients from Fresno, Clovis, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Selma, and the surrounding areas.