pre-orthodontics; notice the small, dark, primary tooth
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post-orthodontics; primary tooth was removed, microdontic teeth were ideally positioned for future ceramics
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post-ceramics; natural, healthy smile |
I had always had an okay smile as a kid, but with age comes wisdom and unfortunately, breaking down in a number of ways. I was “blessed” with an extra baby tooth right in front. Over time, this little guy began to loosen and darken and became quite ugly. My dentist at the time suggested I pull the tooth then apply porcelain veneers over the upper teeth to fill in the gap. I suffered from TMJ and had been wearing a splint for about 10 years, had intermittent headaches, pain in my jaw, temples and teeth. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about doing something so drastic. My husband encouraged me to get a second opinion and suggested Dr. Gerlach who was our daughter’s dentist. We had been in consultation with him for some time regarding her unusual dental situation and felt very comfortable with his care. In my consultation, he spent the necessary time to understand what my concerns and goals were. After an examination, he took photos, measurements, etc. and scheduled another appointment so he could thoroughly review my situation. In the next appointment, he advised pulling the tooth and follow with orthodontic treatment in order to attain the best result. He gave me another option excluding orthodontics, but cautioned I may encounter the same problems down the road. He felt the best way was to start with the foundation, and work your way up. Made perfect sense to me, and to my husband. I spent the next 14 months in braces and my teeth were finally properly aligned, so Dr. Gerlach could now go forward. It’s a rather involved process to go with veneers, but so worth it. As a nervous dental patient, I experienced such care and patience with my unwarranted concerns. Everyone in the office was amazing. It was a wonderful decision and I’d do it all over again if I needed to. Not only do I have a beautiful smile now, but my bite correction has all but eliminated the discomfort a “teeth grinder” experiences.
Thank you Dr. Gerlach!
Debbie T. |
