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Case Study: Treating Multiple Dental Problems at Once
The steady realization of having more than one dental problem can be a shock the system.
It’s a common situation: You tend to ignore problems, whether for financial concerns, dental anxieties, or a simple lack of urgency.
You might notice that tooth that sits at an angle or even the tenderness of your gums but dismiss it as being minor.
Not having regular checkups rarely turns out well, and as with many dental issues, the longer you leave them, the worse they get.
Yet when you eventually summon the courage, you realize you have a whole host of problems that need attention.
This is what Paul faced when he was recommended by a friend to visit Dr. Gorman at The Gorman Center for Fine Dentistry.
Paul works in the financial sector and must regularly meet and greet new clients. Creating a good first impression is vital for Paul, but he had lost his confidence.
Although Paul had tried to keep a check on his dental health, this was not a major consideration. More like the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
We were pleased to meet with Paul and work out his personalized dental treatment plan.
“We came here because Dr. Gorman was recommended to us as an excellent dentist, and we’ve had great care over the years.”
Identifying Paul’s problems
Full examination
Our first action was to carry out a complete oral health evaluation for Paul that included the following:
- Identifying any decay
- Understanding any old dentistry work
- Evaluating gum health
- Testing bone structure and strength
- Appraising overall function
- Talking about his general smile aesthetics
His existing dental work was not in the best condition.
Paul was a strong grinder with severe wear on all teeth, especially the front teeth. This had a particularly clear aesthetic effect.
His lower front teeth were crowded, but Paul wanted to avoid orthodontic treatment – so we put a pin in that to focus on everything else.
Paul’s teeth were also “two-toned,” with the lower portions being extremely yellow.
Paul’s lack of understanding was his biggest barrier to better oral health.
But as soon as we made him aware of all the issues and how we could help him achieve positive outcomes, he was fully motivated to improve things.
“The level of personal care and how they have taken care of our teeth is outstanding.
We wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Paul’s personalized dental treatment plan
With Paul fully on board, we agreed on a course of treatment and schedule.
Our plan was divided into preparation and treatment.
Preparation steps
- Thorough cleaning
- Gum lift
- Teeth whitening
Treatment steps
- CrownsThis link leads to Crowns page
- Porcelain veneersThis link leads to Porcelain veneers page
- OnlaysThis link leads to Onlays page
The process
Once we knew that Paul’s gum tissue was healthy, we thoroughly cleaned his teeth and gums.
We adjusted the gum tissue with a “gum lift” over some of the front teeth to give them a more symmetrical appearance.
What is a Gum Lift?
A gum lift, AKA gum contouring, is a gentle treatment that reshapes your gum tissue at the gumline.
A gum lift was used to reduce the look of Paul’s gummy smile.
The process is designed to expose the hidden, healthy tooth underneath excess gum, converting short, square teeth into longer, rectangluar teeth.
When the correct look for Paul’s front teeth was achieved, we moved to the next stage of the dental treatment plan – teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening
The whitening process helped create a shade baseline so that veneers could be applied later that would blend in.
Professional teeth whitening can literally transform your smile, removing years of natural and habitual discoloration.
This treatment is more affordable than most assume, hence Paul opted for it as a vital part of his smile makeover. We offer both in-office and at-home whitening treatments.
With the preparation stages complete, we could move to restore the functional aspects.
Crowns
Given the condition of Paul’s teeth, we decided to go with crowns rather than fillings.
Crowns are used to protect, cover, and restore the shape of your teeth when fillings don’t solve the problem.
Dr. Gorman offers CEREC same-day crowns, allowing your crown to be designed, created, and fitted in one visit without the need to wear temporaries – a convenience that Paul certainly appreciated.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that bond to the front of your teeth. They’re custom-made to match your smile and conceal dental flaws such as:
- Chips
- Gaps
- Cracks
- Stains or discoloration
Veneers cover up the underlying appearance of one’s teeth, which was vital since Paul didn’t want to pursue orthodontic treatment.
Through veneers, we created a natural, healthy, and well-aligned smile appearance, but without needing months of treatment (like braces or clear aligners would require).
Onlays
Also called partial crowns, onlays are made from impressions of damaged teeth.
More of the original tooth can be saved using onlays than full crowns.
They are cemented into place and provide a more durable solution than fillings.
The final outcome
Facing the reality of having more than one problem to deal with, Paul was motivated to follow a multi-step plan with Dr. Gorman and his team.
Having such a clear roadmap and plan for monitoring progress helped provide a huge boost in motivation for Paul.
We walked him through every step of treatment, keeping things as efficient and comfortable as possible without losing sight of the end goal.
The restoration treatments carried out were successful and, as can be seen, also provided great aesthetic results.
No smile is too far gone
If you are worried about your oral health in any way, give us a call. We will be happy to carry out a complete oral evaluation.
Even if you’re unsure what the problem is or feel you have more than one problem, we can help you find a way.
The Gorman Center for Fine Dentistry is conveniently located in North Oaks. We proudly serve our surrounding communities, including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Vadnais Heights, New Brighton, Shoreview, Little Canada, White Bear Lake, Lino Lakes, Dellwood, Roseville, Twin Cities, Edina, Minnetonka, Eagan, Woodbury, Hudson, Arden Hills, and Wisconsin.
