5 Common Myths & Mysteries

5 COMMON MYTHS AND MYSTERIES

A Practical Guide to Understaning Cosmetic Dentistry

Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

a p S l a t A Note from Atlanta Den Dear Friend, First, we want to thank and congratulate you for taking the time and initiative to read this guide. We can tell you from experience that most people who say they are desperate to have their teeth fixed never do anything about it—largely because they are confused or mislead by all the bad information out there. But by just reading this guide, and arming yourself with the answers you need, you’ve taken a huge step towards achieving your dream smile and all the benefits that go along with a better life.

Warm regards,

Dr. Rich Creasman

Dr. Shannon Creasman

Dr. Susan Estep

Dr. Andrew Currie

Dr. Dana Brockington

Dr. Peter Boulden

Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Introduction One of the easiest things in our lives to improve is the appearance of our smile. Although it will take some small effort on your part, your cosmetic dentist does most of the work. You just need to research your choices and select a dentist.

Why Worry About Your Smile?

According to recent studies, people with a great smile are perceived to be more intelligent, productive, successful, trusting, outgoing, likeable, higher achieving, honest, and brave. Those perceptions may not be accurate, but how people see us affects our everyday lives. A study from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry finds that:

• 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset



• 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more engaging to members of the opposite sex



• 74% of adults believe an unattractive smile can lessen a person’s chances for career success



• 88% say they remember someone with an attractive smile



• Only HALF of Americans are happy with their smile

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

When You Smile, the World Smiles Back: The Benefits of a Great Smile A big smile brightens up a room. Sociological and psychological studies have shown that people who smile frequently seem to be more in control, at ease, and attractive than those wearing a scowl. Recent research has found that a smile may do much more than just improve your appearance. There appears to be a strong connection between smiling and your general health and wellbeing. So, if self-consciousness or embarrassment about your smile keeps you from smiling, you be hurting more than your social life. It may be affecting your overall well-being.

Positive Effect on Other People People who smile more often have a positive effect on their surroundings, and are better received by others. This is demonstrated by the fact that restaurant workers who serve customers with a smile receive larger tips and repeat business, and that salespeople who are quick with a smile more often land the deal. Smiling can even affect the way a person is perceived over the phone! Getting the braces, veneers, or whitening you need for a beautiful smile results in a new level of confidence and openness that will pay off with friendships and career Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Stress Relief Smiling may reduce symptoms associated with short-term anxiety, and even help alleviate long-term chronic stress. Stress does significant damage to the body and mind – it may cause problems from simple headaches and digestion problems, to high blood pressure and heart problems. A smile, even when forced, sends signals to your brain that things are okay. And the brain responds with neuro-chemicals that reduce the stress response. Confidence in your smile will result in you loving you smile, and therefore smiling more often. Physiological benefits will follow: improved mental state, lower blood pressure, and a healthy mind-body connection.

Get Your Great Smile A great smile will help you live the best life you can. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to learn more about the latest methods in smile improvement and improve your personal life, professional life, and health.

But Wait. I Have So Many Questions and Worries About Cosmetic Dentistry! There are many reasons that people resist making that appointment. We will address and explain away the top Myths and Mysteries surrounding Cosmetic Dentistry in this guide. And at the end of reading, you will armed with the knowledge and information to make the right choices in your quest for a great smile. Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

MYTH AND MYSTERY 1: “Every Dentist is a Cosmetic Dentist” Choosing a cosmetic dentist is the first step to creating the wonderful smile you’ve always dreamed of. You should understand that there is no formal specialty or accreditation called “cosmetic dentistry.” All cosmetic dentists are general dentists who have chosen to focus their practice on helping patients with creating the best smile possible. Most invest in education, technologies and techniques to that end. But, with every dentist out there claiming to perform cosmetic dentistry, it’s a challenge to discern who is legit, and right for you. The time you spend in research and investigation will be repaid with a great smile and better life.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

tist n e D c i t e Top Tips for Choosing Your Cosm

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Ask: Is Cosmetic Dentistry their professional focus? Many dentists who claim to be cosmetic dentists perform relatively few treatments using the latest techniques and materials. Seek out a dentist who has made cosmetic dentistry a focus in his or her practice. As with all skilled professions, the more experience a dentist has with cosmetic cases, the

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Before and After Gallery. Make sure that the dentist you are considering has a lot of photographic evidence of his or her work. Before and After photos are a great tool for evaluating a dentist’s level of expertise. Most dentists have a gallery on their website, or a book in their office, you can browse. But make sure the examples are from actual patient cases (not stock photos), and that many types of cases (think restorations, veneers, etc.) are shown to represent a broad range of expertise.

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Post-Graduate Dental Education. Most dental schools only teach a minimal amount of cosmetic dentistry, so ask about post-graduate, continuing education when choosing your cosmetic dentist. Are they credentialed through well-known institutions? What professional institutions, such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), are they members of or affiliated with? Have they attended any recent seminars that may apply to your case? A commitment to post-grad education shows a commitment to keeping abreast of the latest treatments and techniques, and a commitment to providing you the best care possible.

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What Do Other Patients Have to Say? Another great tool in assessing a cosmetic dentist is if they provide you with a list of current or former patients you can call. Patients can give you a good idea of what to expect from the dentist, as well as the quality of results. The dentist should be proud to supply you with a list of “raving fans” who are happy to have you call. The dentist may also have a section of their website with written or video testimonials from patients, other dentists, or other industry Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

professionals endorsing the practice. Lastly, the internet is a powerful research tool. There are a handful of review sites, such as dr. oogle, Angie’s List, Yelp, and even Google, where patients review a dentist and their experience and results. One caveat with reviews, online or in person, is that rather than focusing on one or two

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What Does Your Intuition Say? Do you feel like the dentist you are considering is honest and open with you about your case and potential treatment options? Are you comfortable with the dentist as a person? Do they have a gentle and nurturing “chairside” manner? Do you feel like you can communicate effectively with them? This comfort is really important because, potentially, you will be spending some significant time with the dentist you choose, so any bad feelings shouldn’t be ignored. You really have to ask yourself, “What is my gut telling me?” Nervous is okay. But if it’s

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

MYTH AND MYSTERY 2: “A Great Smile will Break the Bank” Many people request a Hollywood smile without having a celebrity income. But it’s possible. A great smile is not just for the rich and famous anymore. But there are few of us that can consider a smile makeover, or really, any non-emergency dental work, without considering the financial costs. And make no mistake, you are making choices that can have significant impact on your personal “balance sheet.” However, there are some very important things to consider beyond the price tag. Studies have shown that between 5% and 50% of all cosmetic dental work needs to be redone or corrected because the treatments weren’t performed properly. And guess who pays for the repair? You, not the original dentist. And beyond the financial costs are discomfort, time lost, and potentially, health issues like headaches and trouble or pain when chewing. Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Now, don’t interpret this to mean you must go to the most expensive dentist out there to receive the best care. That is not the case at all. Most cosmetic dentists have a relatively simple formula that helps them compute their pricing structure. This formula incorporates time, materials, overhead and profit (you can’t begrudge a highly trained professional, in any industry, from reasonably profiting from their investment in education and skills, right?). Any extreme results, either high or low, usually mean the dentist is cutting corners somewhere, or padding their wallets at your expense, and should be a warning flag. The issue also involves understanding your financial options. Before you can even discuss the finances, you have to know what the investment will be. It can be as little as $125 for bonding to repair a chipped tooth, $10,000+ for gleaming porcelain veneers, or even $50,000 for a full mouth rehabilitation. Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Of course, the actual financial obligation will be unique to your personal circumstances, so beware a practice that quotes prices over the phone, it could be a bait and switch! You also should be aware that there may be payment plans, outside funding, credit lines, and pre-payment discounts. A practice should have a competent Patient Financial Coordinator who will help you determine which choices will be best for you. The dentist should provide a patient with several treatment options, or be able to work on their smile in phases if that is possible and necessary for financial reasons. Remember that you are making an investment in yourself that will have significant payback. The “Return on Investment” (ROI) for your cosmetic dentistry will, in most cases, far surpass your initial investment. As we mentioned in the introduction, missed professional opportunities or unsatisfying social encounters will cost you in ways you will never be able to measure.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

MYTH AND MYSTERY 3: “My teeth will need to be ground down to make room for improvements” Typically, dentists use a lot of very invasive, often “aggresive” methods to repair decay or other trauma to your teeth. Unfortunately, the act of drilling into a tooth can be, in and of itself, very destructive to the tooth. A modern approach to dentistry is centered around doing as little to the tooth as is necessary to repair damage or decay. This is called “minimally invasive dentistry.” The three main components of minimally invasive dentistry are: diet to create the right environment in your mouth and body to support oral health; dental prophylaxis to prevent decay; and minimally invasive techniques when performing restorations, which help prevent requiring more invasive procedures like root canals, crowns, bridges and implants. As an example, in traditional dentistry, if a tooth is suffering because of missing a lot of structure due to trauma, Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

weakness caused by a large or failing filling, or a large amount of decay, the dentist would recommend a crown. The downside to a traditional mixed-metal crown is that this treatment requires more healthy, viable tooth structure to be ground down to accommodate the crown and weak adhesives. Often the tooth is generally reduced to only 1/3 of its normal size in order to provide enough surface for the crown to be secured.

In contrast, access to modern technologies enable patients to define not only what cosmetic and/or functional outcome they desire, but they are also able, in many cases, to limit the amount of tooth preparation required to achieve that result. (Note, though, that each person’s situation is unique and the most effective course of treatment will be determined by you and your dentist.) Modern techniques allow for the avoidance of detrimental preparation in most cases. Dentists are often able to suggest a variety of strategies to accomplish a desired outcome. For example, use of a low-profile veneer instead of a crown. Using modern, “limited prep” or “no-prep” veneers, just a bit of the tooth is shaved down to accommodate an extremely thin veneer (modern veneers are often only as thick as a Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

sheet of heavy paper!). In combination with bonded porcelain filling material, this can accomplish the goal of stabilizing and improving a damaged or decayed tooth. Ultimately, the benefits of minimally invasive techniques are the avoidance of tooth sensitivity, pain, and discomfort that often result from a variety of treatments that involve excessive preparation of existing tooth structures (root canals, tooth cracks and fractures, filling replacements, crowns and crown replacements, and bridgework), and reducing the potential for additional, more invasive, treatments later. Ironically, not every dentist takes advantage of minimally invasive techniques because they are more technically demanding and time-intensive. Ideally, dentists should work closely with patients to educate on the benefits of minimally invasive dentistry, and, in future discussion of treatments, you should enquire about your dentist’s use of modern techniques and alternatives to potentially destructive conventional practices.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

MYTH AND MYSTERY 4: “A Great Smile Requires a lot of Painful Procedures” Fear and anxiety about pain is the number one reason people avoid a trip to the dentist. Often, it will take an emergency situation to finally get an especially fearful patient into the chair. But the reality is that there are many ways to manage both fear and pain in the modern dental practice. Medicine and techniques exist and are commonly used by dentists to reduce, or completely eliminate, those difficulties in most procedures. We’ll discuss some of those techniques, from mild to involved, below. The very first thing to consider in managing fear and anxiety is communication between dentist and patient. A lack of understanding about the treatment and procedures leaves the patient with uncertainties and room for fear and concern. Many people say when the were kids, or even as adults, the dentist just started drilling or pulling teeth without letting them know what was happening and why. A simple conversation between the patient and the dentist about the best course of action and the steps involved removes a great deal of fear and worry. Atlanta Dental Spa • 770.998.3838 • atlantadentalspa.com

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Topical anesthetics are commonly used to numb the area of the gums before injections of a local anesthetics such as lidocaine. This does away with the dreaded “This will pinch a little bit” we typically heard from the dentist. More involved sedation and pain management techniques to relax the patient during a procedure include gas, such as nitrous oxide, intravenous or oral sedatives, or even general anesthesia for patients that suffer the most. These medicines are very effective at calming an anxious patient, and lower blood pressure and levels of stress - a big positive. One drawback to consider is that these powerful medicines require a companion to drive the patient home (or, for general anesthesia, having the treatment performed in a hospital setting). Alternative techniques for fear and pain management are becoming more and more common. Some of these include distraction strategies, relaxation techniques, hypnosis and acupuncture. You should explore as many of these with your dentist as you feel is appropriate for your treatment needs.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

MYTH AND MYSTERY 5: “Crowns are the Only Answer” A “dental crown” is a cap that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, or to improve appearance. The crown, when cemented into place, typically encases the entire part of a tooth at and above the gum line. “Partial crowns” (i.e. onlays or inlays) cover only part of the tooth, and are a more conservative choice. Crowns are made from metals like gold, nickel or chromium, or porcelain fused to metal, all porcelain, resin or ceramic. The crown material best for your particular situation should be discussed with your dentist. Crowns can be used to correct many common problems, such as:

• Restoring a tooth that has been cracked, or requires extensive repair,



• Supporting a tooth weakened by root canal from suffering further damage,



• Correcting undesirable appearance of teeth,



• Holding a dental appliance in place, or supporting a tooth with a large filling.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

But hold on! Crowns are NOT the only answer! To remove damage and provide the proper amount of surface for adhesion, the process of installing crowns involves grinding your teeth down. That’s doesn’t always need to happen, and wouldn’t you like to leave as much of your natural tooth in place as possible? Some dentists have been approaching treatment the same way their entire careers, and crowns may be the only option they offer.

But today, we don’t always have to be that aggressive with teeth. Dentists can now use gentle, bio-friendly, and non-invasive porcelain fillings to fix damage. These “inlays” or “onlays” are made of tooth-like material, and are bonded to the teeth using laser-activated adhesives, and effectively become a part of the tooth. Studies show that because the adhesive bonding, rather than a traditional cement, is so strong, the inlay-repaired tooth is nearly as strong as before it had a cavity/filling.

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5 Common Myths & Mysteries

Summary We certainly hope you found this guide helpful in shedding some light on the top Myths and Mysteries surrounding cosmetic dentistry. Remember the many benefits that a great smile gets you, and don’t be shy about asking questions when meeting with dentists in the search for just the right professional to help you achieve that dream smile. We encourage you to call our office right away to schedule a consultation, and if you mention that you downloaded and read this guide, we’ll waive the usual $150 consultation fee. Come get to know us, see the amazing work we do on a daily basis, explore the options you have, and rest easy in knowing that we use the latest technology and techniques to care for your smile and overall health.

Cheers,

Atlanta Dental Spa

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