Smile Lift

Erases the signs of aging on your teeth quickly and naturally, without side effects or contraindications.

Over the years, teeth age, the enamel becomes more irregular, there is color change, gum retraction and other problems that wear down the entire tooth structure. Many people tend to hide their smile. But it is possible to smile again with pleasure and confidence. Discover the technique that restores years of life to your smile.

Smile lift is a concept brought to Portugal by Paula Sequeiros, Stomatologist, Maxillofacial Surgeon and Director of Clínica Sanoral, in Lisbon. This is a dental aesthetic procedure that uses ceramic veneers to give teeth a rejuvenated appearance. «There are a series of factors that age the smile and that we can fully correct with ceramic veneers and/or other techniques», she assures. According to the specialist, who attends at least three annual training courses in the US and in some European countries, the smile lift «can really turn back the clock». This technique enables a more harmonious and beautiful smile, but not only that. «All the patient’s mind changes because he becomes more confident», she adds.

What does it consist of?

The procedure is based on the application of ceramic veneers on the teeth to be treated. Paula Sequeiros explains that they are «porcelain films similar to contact lenses that are adhered to the tooth, complementing its natural enamel». Because they are very thin, they get many features (such as opacity) from the original teeth, ensuring a natural look. These veneers are carefully crafted by ceramists/prosthetists tailored to each patient and can last for about 15 to 20 years.

The best?

It is a minimally invasive technique that requires only slight wear on the surface (enamel) of the tooth (the placement of crowns, for example, requires much more wear) and has no contraindications. «Since we only work on the enamel, there are no contraindications. A minimal amount of enamel is removed and a structure is glued that will become part of the person’s tooth», explains the Stomatologist.

Who can do it?

The ideal candidate for having a smile lift with ceramic veneers is one who has relatively good teeth (they must be in usable condition) but whose dentition is aged.
«Teeth get older with age, they become shorter, small fractures may appear in the enamel, small black triangles on the gums, etc. The smile lift allows you to correct these signs of aging in an extremely natural way», says Paula Sequeiros.
It is, therefore, a tooth rejuvenation method par excellence, in addition, it is also indicated in the aesthetic correction of small defects such as flaws, misalignment, color changes or disproportionate interdental spaces.

How is it done?

The veneer placement process requires 5 essential steps:

First Appointment

– It serves to collect data (impressions, photographs, X-rays, clinical history and observation) essential to establish an initial treatment plan. These elements are then sent to the ceramist who works with the doctor to define the final treatment plan. «I send the templates to the technician together with a report where he can add information he considers relevant»,
explains Paula Sequeiros.

Second Appointment

– The doctor presents the treatment plan to the patient. «I explain what I’m going to do and the techniques to use», says Paula Sequeiros. In addition, I shows “before” and “after” photographs of similar cases, as well as a simulation of his own case.

– The cost is also presented. According to the specialist, «from the moment the patient accepts, we move on to scheduling a third
appointment».

– The temporary veneers are then ordered and the procedure begins to be programmed. Paula Sequeiros adds that «the casts go back to the technician to create the new shape of the teeth that we think is the best through waxing models. It is based on this that I will place the temporary veneers in the next appointment.”

 

Third Appointment

 

– It is the first appointment of the treatment itself and can take two to three hours.
– The procedure is painless. Local anesthesia is used but the patient must be aware that it is a tiring consultation and that he has to cooperate calmly.
– At the end of this appointment, the person goes home with different teeth despite still having temporary veneers.
– Meanwhile, the ceramic veneers are being produced in the laboratory. «It is a very meticulous job and I want it to come out perfect. I can’t rush the technician», says Paula Sequeiros. «Usually, between taking the impressions and placing the definitive veneers, it can take three to four weeks. The only exceptions are patients who come from outside the country and stay in Portugal for a short period of time», she adds.

Fourth Appointment

– This is the second treatment visit and the one where the veneers are adhered. «We are going to glue them to the tooth and this appointment makes all the difference. I have to be super-concentrated because I don’t admit failures», points out the Maxillofacial Surgeon.
– “There can be no contamination by saliva. The veneers have to be placed in the exact position and, once glued, there is no chance of adjustment, so there has to be a lot of concentration on both my part and the team. And the patient should remain as still as possible. It is the Dentistry technique I know with the least margin of error», explains Paula Sequeiros.
– At the end of this appointment, the patient leaves with the definitive treatment and comes back two weeks later for a review appointment.

 

Fifth Consultation

– It is the final appointment in which small adjustments can be done, everything is checked and the final photographs are taken. «I check if everything is fine and, in that case, the patient enters into a routine appointment schedule», explains Paula Sequeiros. «Every six months, each patient receives a call to come for their cleaning as usual.»

What precautions to take?

The placement of veneers does not oblige patients to take special care beyond the usual prevention and hygiene measures:

– Patients who have veneers must have the same hygiene care as with their normal dentition. «In addition, they should apply common sense rules, as well as for their natural teeth: not using them for bricolage:, for example, opening lids, breaking things, nibbling on pens, etc. It’s incredible how many mistakes people make until the day they break a tooth», defends the specialist.
– «You can continue to smoke and drink coffee» as usual. In fact, as the veneers are more polished than the natural tooth enamel, stains are even less frequent», says Paula Sequeiros.

After the procedure, they must return to the office every six months for review and Oral Hygiene, like any other patient.

 

Benefits

Patients can expect a real, lasting and natural change in their smile. In fact, the great secret of aesthetics is looking natural. «The ideal is to go from the “before” to the “after” and the patient immediately forgetting what he was like… According to Paula Sequeiros, «through changes in the teeth, the Smile Lift, we take years off their appearance, improving their entire oral health. I have patients who don’t laugh before the treatment and, after two weeks, they already look different, greatly increasing their self-esteem». On the other hand, normally people are motivated to take more care of hygiene, improving all oral health.

Little invasive procedure. «This is a technique that is very friendly to the teeth and gums», defends Paula Sequeiros. “Tooth wear is minimal, veneers are durable, virtually non-invasive and 100% compatible with teeth and gums. The look is more natural and the teeth gain better aesthetics», emphasizes the Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Author: Claudia Pinto
Source: Ultimate Beauty Magazine
Date: March 2012