By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
How did this start?
Shelley has been a long-time patient of Eggert Family Dentistry and was interested in Invisalign treatment as she felt that her teeth were crooked and she wanted to have a smile that she felt good about in family pictures. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert recommended that she go through the complete Records Process to analyze her bite and airway as well. Dr. Elizabeth wondered if there was more at play due to information that Shelley has shared with us over the years. Shelley also wanted to learn more about sleep appliances as she uses a CPAP.
What did she want?
Shelley wanted to have a white, bright, and beautiful smile. She wanted to feel good about her smile in family pictures, and with the many moments in the future that would be captured, she wanted to be confident about her smile and be able to enjoy and cherish these memories.
What was recommended?
Through the records process and with information from her doctor, it was determined that the position of Shelley’s front teeth and the existing wear likely are at least partially due to airway compromises, both at night and during the day. To correct the crowding, it was recommended that Shelley start with Invisalign. Through this process, Dr. Elizabeth would be able to unravel the crowding. However, it was noted Shelley’s tongue and arch form needed more space than her teeth would allow, so Invisalign would create spacing between her teeth. Dr. Elizabeth talked with Shelley about restoring her upper front teeth with crowns or veneers after Invisalign to account for the space discrepancy and to help protect the enamel that Shelley has worn away over the years.
What was involved?
Once the Invisalign was completed, Shelley did some whitening to brighten her smile and prepare for her restorations. Impressions were taken to develop a wax-up or “blue print.” It was only necessary to do restorations for Shelley’s upper front six teeth to help with the spacing issue and to better protect her enamel. Shelley was happy with the wax-up and so Dr. Elizabeth Eggert prepared her teeth and the restorations were fabricated. It was necessary to do more extensive porcelain restorations for Shelley – crowns that covered the whole tooth, because of existing fillings in those teeth. Zirconia crowns were done. Zirconia is a very strong all-porcelain material that has become very esthetic as well. More and more, it is being chosen for even front teeth.
What does she think?
We asked Shelley what she thought once the Invisalign and restorations were all completed and what she thought about the whole process. She said, “This is awesome and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments.” “Everything was great and went very smoothly – you guys were perfect!” When asked what advice she would offer a friend or family member thinking of changing their smile, she said, “Prepare and be patient, but I’m so happy I did this!” Congratulations Shelley! We love working with patients like you! If you’ve been thinking about improving your smile, contact us today to learn more about what Eggert Family Dentistry can do for you! 651-482-8412.
