By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
How did this start?
Katie came to our clinic looking for options to help improve her smile. As a child, Katie had crowding in her mouth and her recommended “orthodontic plan” at that time was to have 4 teeth pulled. Growing up in the United Kingdom, braces were not common, and as a result, she was feeling the effects as an adult – her bite didn’t match up well, she was getting gum recession, and her teeth were wearing at an accelerated pace. When Katie was 16, she was involved in a trampoline accident that led to an injury to her tongue and chipping of her lower front teeth. Katie was ready to take the steps to a healthier, more beautiful smile. She noted “I don’t look at my front teeth much, in fact I can’t see them that well when I talk. I think they should be longer. I guess I could do veneers, but I am most interested in what is the best thing I can do health-wise and what will be the most stable for the long-term?”
What was involved?
Katie and Dr. Elizabeth talked about how she could improve her smile and her function. Katie was willing to undergo orthodontic treatment, which was the best way to stabilize and improve her bite and it was also the best way to help position her teeth back to where they were before they started wearing down. Due to the wear, once Katie’s teeth were in a better position, it would be important to place restorations and build the teeth back to their original proportions. It was likely that Katie would need 2-6 veneers after orthodontics to give her a natural smile. Katie was also interested in lighter teeth so she wanted to bleach before having the veneers done. Katie patiently underwent orthodontic treatment with Dr. DeVoe for nearly 2 years before she was ready for bleaching and her veneers. After her teeth were in a better position, she underwent Zoom bleaching, and in the end, it was decided that 4 veneers could give her the look she wanted.
What does Katie think?
Katie is very happy with her new smile! In the beginning Katie said she was a little apprehensive as to what the procedures would be like. After Katie’s journey was over, we asked her what kind of advice would she give to someone considering going through this process? Katie told us “Just do it! Forget how long it takes and focus on the end results. Don’t delay and just do it!” Katie also said, “I’m so happy I got it done! I may even consider doing my canines, then I won’t have to worry about bleaching them!” Katie told us how much she appreciated the teamwork between Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. DeVoe. Katie raved about her new smile, she also said that she never realized how self-conscience she was about her smile until everything was done and she no longer had any reason to be.
