With the new year comes thoughts of renewal and starting fresh. A smile makeover can give patients confidence, improve their health and enhance the function of the mouth. If you’re searching for a great cosmetic dentist to give you the smile you’ve always wanted, look no further than Dr. Finlay at Annapolis Smiles.
Not only is Dr. Scott Finlay one of the top dentists in Annapolis, he’s one of the leading cosmetic dentists in the United States. His extensive career in cosmetic dentistry sets him apart. Dr. Finlay is one of 50 dentists nationwide and the only dentist in the greater Annapolis area to be credentialed as an Accredited Fellow by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Finlay is also a senior faculty and Resident Expert in Esthetics, emeritus at the Dawson Academy, a leading dental continuing education and research facility.
Dr. Finlay follows a four-step process for smile makeovers:
STEP 1 – COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION
Many cosmetic dental concerns are actually caused by functional problems in the mouth or occlusion (bite). The first step in smile design is a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Finlay will perform a physical examination to inspect your teeth, gums, mouth, jaw joints and muscles. He is carefully looking for signs of decay, stress, or instability.
For a smile makeover, Dr. Finlay also considers a patient’s facial appearance, including the symmetry of features, size of the lips and mouth, and skin tone and texture to make sure that the cosmetic changes will be natural-looking.
STEP 2 – TREATMENT PLANNING
The treatment plan is like a set of blue prints for an architect. Digital technologies take this to an entirely new level of beauty and accuracy. Dr. Finlay takes diagnostic x-rays and scans of the teeth to aid in treatment planning.
Dr. Finlay creates a 3-D model to demonstrate and test how the changes will function. Refinements are made at each step in the process. This way, you can see what your smile makeover will “look” like before changes are made. In many cases, a mockup can be done without anesthesia within minutes to see if this design is right for you, before any changes are actually done to your smile.
STEP 3 – PREPARATION AND PROTOTYPE
The teeth are prepared after the planning process is complete. Dr. Finlay creates provisional (also known as temporary) restorations to replicate the anticipated results. These are also used as models for the dental laboratory to create the hand-crafted final restorations.
STEP 4 – SMILE MAKEOVER
The final restoration, whether it is a dental crown, porcelain veneer, an implant or dental bridge, are created at a state-of-the-art dental laboratory. Dr. Finlay provides exact specifications using the 3-D modeling as well as scans of the prepared teeth and scans of the prototype.
Because of this comprehensive smile design process, the application of the final restoration is not a guess, but a predictable result that feels comfortable, looks natural, and functions optimally.
If you are ready to start the new year with a new smile, make sure you visit a professional like Dr. Scott Finlay, DDS who provides both general dentistry services with a special interest in the comprehensive approach to cosmetic/restorative dentistry, to provide the right solution for you. Call us at 410.989.7132 to schedule an appointment today!
