Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Bride Makeover

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, July 04, 2005

STORY: BRIDE MAKEOVER
SCRIPT #565
AIRDATE:  Monday, July 4, 2005
DHC Master #19 Timecode: 42:32

This summer, many brides-to-be are seeing their dentist before they say "I do."  They often are choosing minor, affordable cosmetic dental procedures that can make a dramatic difference.  Dr. Niessen looks at one such case.

Most people cannot afford to pay for an expensive, extreme makeover of their smile. But many dental patients only need minor changes to see a major improvement.
     
Tiffany Long is one of those patients. “Every time I saw a picture of me, that’s the first thing I looked at was my smile. I always noticed that one tooth and it just really bothered me,” said Tiffany.
 
“In Tiffany’s case, she had what we commonly refer to as a peg lateral or a smaller lateral incisor that does not really fall in line with her smile line.”
 
A small lateral incisor is a common problem. Composite bonding restored the shape but had discolored. A single porcelain veneer solved the problem. But before the veneer was bonded to her tooth, Tiffany underwent two other procedures performed by periodontist Dr. Ellen Hall.
 
“She was getting married and wanted to improve her smile for all her wedding photographs. So we did some gingival recontouring and crown lengthening.”
 
Crown lengthening removes bone. Gingival recontouring removes gum tissue. The result can be dramatic. “An extreme makeover for her with very minimal treatment," said Dr. Ellen Hall.
 
“We placed one single, veneer on that particular tooth in order to create a beautiful smile that Tiffany is absolutely in love with," said Dr. Chai Trueu.
 
“I knew that I was going to have lots of pictures taken. So that was really important to me." said Tiffany.
 
Small changes to your teeth and gums can make a big difference, especially when you plan to capture that smile in a photograph. So consult with your dentist if you have a big event coming soon. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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