"Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail"
By Joseph P. Harmon, D.D.S. of Delmarva Dental Services, PA

Most people wouldn’t think twice about having a house built without using a blueprint, but people every day have major cosmetic dentistry without a plan. We can cover up our bodies but not our faces. You don’t want to end up with a smile you’re not pleased with because it’s out there for the whole world to see. At least you can move from a house you don’t like, but an unplanned cosmetic problem is a different story. Simple to prevent, however, difficult to correct.

So, what can go wrong? Teeth can be made too narrow, too wide, too short, or too long for your face or in relation to one another. Tooth color can be too dark, too light, too opaque, or not uniform with the rest of the teeth. Gum height can be too low, too high or not symmetrical. You may be so concerned about fixing a particular problem, that you become blinded to an additional problem that may not be apparent until the completion of the case.

Such as closing a gap between the two front teeth and then noticing that the teeth are too wide and too short.

A smile can be improved in many ways by using traditional braces, fast braces, invisible braces, gum lifts, office whitening, home whitening, crowns, bridges, implants, bonding and porcelain veneers. There are three philosophies for preparing teeth for porcelain veneers and two types of porcelain veneers. These factors have an effect on the cost, amount of time to complete the makeover, and the cosmetic result.

The best way to proceed with cosmetic dentistry is to have a “Smile Analysis”. This is a process where photographs are taken of your natural smile from different angles. This shows the smile that others see. Measurements of the face are then taken. The shape of the face, skin tone, eye color, tooth size, tooth shape and tooth color are all taken into consideration. It.s not just about teeth but how the whole face and teeth relate to one another. All the data is analyzed and plans developed to create different smiles. The photos are imaged using a computer to show the end results and clearly communicate what a makeover will look like.

Having A Plan helps to minimize unpleasant surprises and will provide a “radiant smile” to be proud of for the whole world to see.

MAGGIE’S MEMO: The office of Drs.. Esham, Harmon, Makowske & Cypher of DELMARVA DENTAL SERVICES, P.A. goes beyond providing comprehensive dentistry, and includes educating their patients so they can make informed decisions about their dental care. A full range of multimedia, including cable TV and audio CDs with headphones, helps patients to relax.

The office of DELMARVA DENTAL SERVICES, P.A. offers a wide range of services including: implants, cosmetic dentistry, smile analysis, athletic mouth guards, snore guards, bite-guards, tooth colored inlays and fillings, crowns, metal-free bridges, root canals, dentures, non-surgical gum treatment for gum disease, orthodontics, and breath freshening. The office serves the whole family and accepts most major credit cards.

MAGGIE SAYS: “It had been ten years since I had been to the dentist,” recalls one patient of the office of DELMARVA DENTAL SERVICES, P.A. “They specialize in treating people who are afraid of the dentist. They are definitely patient oriented and very accommodating to your needs.” She has gone on to have fillings, root canals, and crowns. The office of Drs.. Esham, Harmon, Makowske & Cypher of DELMARVA DENTAL SERVICES, P.A. makes going to the dentist as painless as possible. Contact them at 410-742-3000 and they will do everything they can to keep you relaxed and your smile bright!