The Beauty of Comprehensive Dentistry
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The Problem: |
The Solution:
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The left lateral incisor, canine and bicuspid are on cross bite and the two central incisors are overlapped. Removal of one central incisor on the lower arch allowed us to correct this type of malocclusion with predictability and ease. |
The cross bite corrected, the gingival symmetry refined with the WaterLase dental laser and a veneer placed on the left lateral to compliment the smile by filling in the space of the small tooth. |
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Melissa has a small lateral, visible here, in addition to the cross bite. |
Once orthodontics was completed a porcelain veneer was placed. |
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Note how the arch is flattened on the sides, almost V-shaped. This is the cause of the malocclusion. These conditions usually happen due to the over retention of the primary teeth and the resulting altered eruption of the permanent teeth into a non-preferred position. |
Melissa's completed treatment showing the full sized arch form, nicely rounded. In developing an orthodontic plan for our patients, it is important to always create a fully developed upper jaw and teeth form and then to "grow" the lower jaw to fit into this "home base". |
 The laser has been used here to make the tissue even in contour. If you look at the two front teeth now, you see identical shapes instead of one rounder at the gum than the other. Our eyes instinctively know when there is symmetry and when there is asymmetry. We judge symmetry as beautiful and asymmetry as odd in the back of our mind.
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 After orthodontics, the gum tissue on the #8 tooth, which is the right central incisor, but to your left looking at the photo, had a tiny bit of asymmetry. We used the Waterlase dental laser to modify the tissue with no anesthesia or pain for our patient (see the photo to the right).
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 Click here for larger photo of Melissa's beautiful smile |
 Click here for larger photo of Melissa's beautiful smile |
