A persons mouth can be a very sensitive issue for them, this is especially true when the problems are visible, painful or from neglect. Whatever the cause, when we meet patients of this nature the reason is never because they prefer things this way - (no one wants to live with painful teeth), rather there is always some other underlying cause. They may be fearful of the dentist or had a prior bad experience, the reasoning could be based solely on finances or simply they are embarrassed about seeking professional treatment; possibly thinking they are too far gone for help. Everyone has their own reasoning, whatever it may be all of the patients in the example scenarios above are good candidates for a Smile Restoration and no one is ever beyond help. 

First, let me say a few things, I'm glad you're here - at least your reading this, which means we've taken one step forward... You are not alone, you wouldn't be the first person we've helped through a fear of the dentist or doesn't come for other reasons and I promise you, you won't be the last until I retire. I can say this much, it's ok, if you let us help you get the rest of the way by taking another step toward reclaiming a healthy smile and better quality of life, you will not be disappointed. You'll feel better physically, emotionally and mentally. The first hurdle (getting through the front door) is always the hardest. At the very least, if nothing else you leave with some new information and a better sense of whats going on in your mouth. 

What is a Smile Restoration? 

Phase 1 : Restore health
We compare a smile restoration to building a home. We need a good, solid foundation and wouldn't build a house on top of quicksand. Our quicksand in this case is the higher priority health risks, they need to be treated first before construction can begin. This may include things such as active infections requiring root canal therapy or periodontal therapy to treat gum disease, removing decay from teeth or any active problems that will only get worse without intervention. While treatments in this phase of the smile restoration do not improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile (yet), they are of the utmost importance - the prior conditions are not only a risk to your mouth and remaining teeth but a physical risk to your health. Not to mention if we were to simply restore right on top of these conditions without treating them, we would not be acting in your best interest. Like our quicksand house will fail, so will the dental work. 

Phase 2: Restore function
Our first step was to treat whatever underlying conditions were present to restore you back to a state of health. Now that we have removed any problem sources and extracted any teeth that cannot be saved, we can focus on restoring function by replacing those missing teeth to repair good chewing and speaking ability. This can be accomplished by using crowns, bridges, implants or dentures - that choice is always up to you. By taking into consideration our desired end result, this phase of our smile restoration will be designed to fit in line with the cosmetic goal of the next phase and our overall vision for your new smile. We always use high-quality, based in the USA dental labs for all of our prosthetics (Nothing is shipped overseas to save a few bucks - ever). 

Phase 3: Restore esthetics
Now we get down to the fun stuff. I say fun, because this phase is the one that patients tend to like best. First, because they see a light at the end of the tunnel and second, this is where all of the pieces begin to fit and the most visually dramatic changes can be seen. The final cosmetic portion! Once any health issues have been dealt with, chewing and speaking function has been restored, our focus will shift again; primarily toward cosmetics to restore your smile to a naturally beautiful appearance. During this phase we can address any mis-aligned, stained, chipped, unsightly, cracked or broken teeth that we have not yet addressed. We have a variety of options to accomplish this as well, from using porcelain veneers, bonding with resin composites, inlays, onlays, crowns, in-office whitening, take home whitening. Again, the choice is always up to you but we will provide as much guidance as you'd like.   

Phase 4: Maintain health
Lastly, you worked so hard to get here, as much as we want to ensure you are satisfied with your new smile we also want to ensure that it will last you for years to come by maintaining this new state of healthy. By this point you've already passed the hurdle of getting through the front door and made it to the finish line by leaving with a smile we hope you absolutely love. Want to know the best way to keep it? - maintain it. Brushing, flossing, bi-yearly professional cleanings and having an annual checkup should be a piece of cake (don't forget cake has a lot of sugar - sorry, I couldn't resist) for you and some of the best "dental insurance" you can have. As you know, small problems compound into big ones and we won't let that happen again - right? Right...! Glad we agree. 

Is a Smile Restoration for me?

If you feel similar to any one of the situations described above, then yes. Everyones mouth is different and in varying states, however you would be amazed at the results that can be attained through a smile restoration, they are truly stunning. Visit us at Old Hook Dental, we'd love to discuss how a smile restoration can benefit you, your life and transform your smile into one that you will be proud of and love. Why not schedule a free consultation with us? During your consultation at Old Hook Dental with Dr. Aurbach, we can discuss the options available to you, explain the procedures and answer any questions you may have involving your treatment plan.

What types of things can a smile restoration correct?

The list below is just a few examples of what can be done during a smile restoration. As we mentioned, every mouth is different and so is every smile restoration.

• Infections can be treated
• Periodontal issues can be addressed
• Non-restorable teeth can be extracted
• Cavities can be repaired 
• Missing teeth can be replaced
• Mis-shapen teeth can be corrected
• Cosmetic issues can be addressed
• Crooked teeth can be aligned
• Broken teeth can be crowned or veneered
• Discolored or stained teeth can be whitened or veneered
• Old fillings, discolored or chipped teeth can be veneered
• Gums can be re-contoured
• Teeth can be lengthened, shortened, widened  

We can go on forever, but you get the idea. With a smile restoration we will address all of your dental needs and combine different aspects of dentistry to achieve the smile you always wanted.  All of this is done in a relaxing, comfortable, friendly atmosphere. Who ever thought a visit to the dentist to have work done can be like a day trip to the spa?

How long will a smile restoration take?

A smile restoration will take multiple appointments but one thing is certain - good dentistry takes a good amount of time and we will provide you with that level of care to deliver a quality product. We will make sure to keep you relaxed, feeling cared for and informed every step of the way. Depending on the case, it can take as little as a few appointments to weeks or months when things like implants are involved. Whatever the situation may be, we will make it happen - this is the reason smile restoration exists.

Whats the difference between a Smile Restoration and Smile Rejuvenation?

A Smile Restoration is designed for people with other underlying dental issues in addition to cosmetic issues, such as chronic painful teeth or bite, multiple infections, multiple decayed, broken down or missing teeth. This type of treatment is more in-depth, where we restore you back to a state of health first (removing infections, sources of pain, etc), then address any functional, cosmetic or esthetic issues to give you back a beautiful, pain free, working smile. In both cases all of the dental issues will be addressed and needs met, however, the goal here is to 1) restore health first 2) restore function 3) restore to a naturally beautiful appearance and 4) Maintain health - in that order. 

Please click here to see Case #1 as an illustration of this - Patient had one failed root canal, one non-restorable tooth, one missing tooth and multiple broken posts and cores underneath failed bridge work. Patient was extremely unhappy with esthetics but did not seek treatment until complete failure of the bridge. Root canal was retreated, broken posts were removed and replaced, new cores were built, hopeless tooth was extracted, 6 unit and 3 unit bridges had complete failure needing replacement. A new single 9 unit bridge (fixed prosthesis) was fabricated with pink porcelain added to cover large gum resorption. Since the patient had other underlying dental issues (non-restorable tooth, failed root canal, etc..) those were immediate concerns and addressed first, back to health. This case was treated using titanium posts with core material to restore retention and a single unit porcelain fused to metal (for increased strength) bridge was fabricated.

While both a smile rejuvenation and restoration are intended to address all of your dental needs and wants, the main difference between the two is the design of the treatment and the route we take to get to the end result. A smile rejuvenation is designed to address esthetic concerns possibly in conjunction with any minor dental issues you may have. Primarily patients for Smile Rejuvenation do not have major dental issues associated with their teeth that need attention first, they are simply unhappy with the appearance of their smile.