Smile Design Cases
Transforming a Smile: A Journey of Restoration and Confidence with Dental Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain Crowns
Case 72
The Patient’s Story: A Quest for a Perfect Smile
Before Smile Transformation
At Toronto Smile Design—Yorkville Dental, every patient’s journey is unique, but some stories truly stand out. Recently, we had the privilege of working with a remarkable patient in his late 50s, whose life was profoundly impacted by his dental issues. For years, he avoided smiling in family photos, feeling self-conscious about his missing teeth, worn natural teeth, and uneven gum line. His dream was not just to restore his smile but to regain his confidence and quality of life.
Digital Smile Design Planning of the Smile Transformation
The Challenge: Beyond Aesthetics
During our initial consultation, we identified numerous concerns requiring immediate attention. The patient had a deep bite caused by significant tooth wear and a collapsed bite from multiple missing teeth on both the upper and lower arches. These issues had led to jaw misalignment, speech difficulties, and TMJ discomfort. Additionally, the lack of support from adjacent teeth and the side of the gap had accelerated bone loss and compromised his facial structure.
Our patient’s case underscored the importance of combining cosmetic dentistry with functional treatment. While he sought a beautiful smile, he also needed a solution to address the functional issues impacting his everyday life.
Intraoral Picture of the patient before Smile Makeover
4D Dentistry: Crucial Step for Functional Treatments
Before proceeding with Digital Smile Design (DSD) documentation, Dr. Johnson utilized the MODJAW device to record the patient’s dynamic jaw movements, a step of paramount importance in a case of this complexity. MODJAW, the first of its kind in Ontario, enables precise, real-time tracking of jaw function, capturing the intricacies of the patient’s articulation and occlusion. For this patient, whose collapsed vertical dimension and lack of anterior or canine guidance had destabilized his bite, understanding the jaw’s functional patterns was crucial to designing a treatment plan that would restore balance and harmony. By analyzing the dynamic relationship between the jaws, Dr. Johnson could identify aberrant movements, pinpoint functional deficiencies, and predict the biomechanical impact of the proposed restorations. This comprehensive data allowed for a tailored approach to rebuilding the patient’s occlusion, ensuring that the new restorations would fit aesthetically and function seamlessly within his unique jaw mechanics. Accurate jaw movement records are the foundation of any full-mouth rehabilitation, as they enable a design that promotes long-term stability, minimizes strain on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and enhances the overall success of the treatment.
Crucial Step: Creating a Digital Patient
At Toronto Smile Design - Yorkville Dental, no treatment plan is ever proposed without a meticulous design and 3D simulation to ensure predictability and precision. For this patient, after obtaining dynamic jaw movement data with MODJAW, we proceeded with a comprehensive set of documentation, including intraoral and extraoral photographs, high-resolution portrait images, videos, and facial scans using the Ray Face scanner. Each piece of information is critical in building a holistic understanding of the patient’s condition. Intraoral photographs and scans reveal the state of the teeth and soft tissues, while portrait images and videos capture how the patient’s smile interacts with their facial expressions and features, ensuring that the final design harmonizes with their overall appearance. Facial scans provide a digital framework for seamlessly integrating planned restorations into the patient’s natural anatomy.
The Necessity of Advanced Dental Imaging: Full Skull CBCT
To complement this data, we requested a full skull CBCT scan, a cornerstone of sophisticated treatment planning for complex cases. The CBCT allows us to visualize the patient’s craniofacial structure in three dimensions, providing unparalleled detail of the teeth, bone, sinuses, and surrounding anatomical structures. In this case, segmentation of the skull and mandible enabled us to analyze the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in motion, offering critical insights into how the jaw moves during various functional activities. This level of visualization ensures that we can identify any underlying joint issues, assess the impact of the collapsed vertical dimension on the TMJ, and design restorations that restore functional equilibrium. Without these advanced diagnostic tools, creating a treatment plan that ensures both functional integrity and aesthetic excellence would be impossible, making this step an indispensable part of the smile design process.
The Treatment Plan: Personalized and Comprehensive
After a thorough evaluation, we crafted a personalized treatment plan that prioritized both aesthetics and functionality. Our approach involved varying treatment options tailored to his unique needs. Here’s how we proceeded:
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Digital Smile Design: Using advanced technology, we created a mock-up of his future smile. This allowed the patient to visualize the transformation and ensured his goals aligned with our plan.
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Bite Relaxation with MODJAW: The innovative MODJAW system recorded the patient’s dynamic jaw movements, providing invaluable data for restoring balance to his bite. This ensured his final results would feel as natural as his existing teeth once did.
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Temporaries and Testing: Long-term temporary crowns fabricated with PMMA material were placed to allow the patient to test his new bite and appearance. This step ensured both comfort and satisfaction before moving forward with permanent restorations.
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Final Restorations: We replaced his older implant-supported crowns with meticulously designed porcelain crowns to better integrate with his new smile design. Additionally, porcelain veneers were used to harmonize the upper and lower arches, creating a seamless and balanced aesthetic.
Overcoming Challenges: Crafting a Functional and Aesthetic Solution
The patient’s treatment required meticulous planning. We addressed the extrusion of molars, corrected the deep bite, and rebuilt his smile with durable replacement teeth that blended seamlessly with his natural teeth. Integrating new porcelain crowns ensured optimal functionality and aesthetics for areas where existing crowns were replaced.
Our approach considered every detail, from the colour and translucency of the restorations to the alignment with the gum line. By addressing his bite issues and enhancing the structure of his adjacent teeth, we ensured a comfortable and natural feel to his restored smile.
The process also involved addressing previous wear and tear on his teeth. Using porcelain veneers, we reconstructed his anterior teeth to restore their original shape and length, improving his appearance and chewing efficiency. Each step of the treatment was guided by the principles of cosmetic dentistry and functional treatment to deliver long-term results.
Before
After
Complete MODJAW Dynamic Documentation
The MODJAW device captures highly detailed and dynamic jaw movements, comprehensively understanding the patient’s functional patterns. For a case as complex as this patient’s, obtaining precise data on the following jaw motions was critical to achieving a flawless final result:
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Open and Close Motion: This fundamental movement is essential for understanding how the jaw aligns vertically and whether the teeth make proper contact during closure. For a patient with the collapsed vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO), analyzing the open-close trajectory allowed Dr. Johnson to design restorations that reestablish the correct jaw positioning, ensuring comfort and stability during routine activities such as chewing and speaking.
The Results: A Life Transformed
The transformation was nothing short of remarkable. The patient’s smile was fully restored with a combination of porcelain veneers and crowns, blending seamlessly with his adjacent teeth. By replacing older implant-supported crowns with updated restorations, we eliminated any inconsistencies and ensured the entire smile appeared harmonious.
For the first time in decades, he could chew comfortably, speak clearly, and smile confidently. His feedback was heartfelt; he shared photos of himself smiling with family, celebrating milestones with newfound joy. These moments reaffirmed why we do what we do: to restore not just smiles, but the confidence and happiness that come with them.
At Toronto Smile Design—Yorkville Dental, we believe every patient deserves a tailored approach to their dental care. Our expertise in cosmetic dentistry and advanced techniques, such as MODJAW and digital smile design, allows us to achieve unparalleled results. Whether you’re seeking to improve your existing teeth, replace older restorations, or undergo a complete smile makeover, our dental professionals are here to guide you.
Our team also provides comprehensive aftercare, ensuring patients understand how to properly care for their new smiles. From addressing periodontal disease to managing medical conditions that may impact dental health, we’re committed to enhancing your quality of life through personalized dental services.
Before
After
Start Your Journey to a Beautiful Smile
Whether you’re considering porcelain veneers, dental crowns, or a combination of restorative solutions, our dental clinic offers the expertise and technology to restore your smile. With solutions that vary depending on your needs, we’re here to help you achieve aesthetic and functional excellence. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward a smile that’s as radiant as you are.
"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
— John F. Kennedy
Comprehensive Smile Transformation: Full-Mouth Rehabilitation with Digital Dentistry at Toronto Smile Design—Yorkville Dental
At Toronto Smile Design—Yorkville Dental, every smile is a unique masterpiece crafted with cutting-edge technology and artistic precision. Dr. Johnson Ozgur’s expertise in cosmetic and restorative dentistry transforms not just smiles but lives, combining advanced techniques with a patient-centered approach to deliver stunning and functional results.
A recent case exemplifies our dedication to excellence. A 59-year-old patient came to us with worn, stained, and uneven teeth, suffering from a collapsed vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO), diminished lip support, and difficulty eating, speaking, and smiling confidently. His case required a comprehensive and innovative approach, leveraging the latest in digital dentistry to restore both function and aesthetics.
The journey began with an in-depth consultation and documentation using state-of-the-art tools like the MODJAW for real-time jaw motion analysis, the Ray Face facial scanner for seamless smile integration, and a full-skull CBCT to evaluate his TMJ movements and bone structure in exquisite detail. This digital-first approach enabled us to design a new occlusal surface to rebuild his VDO and create a balanced, natural smile curve.
To ensure the best outcome, the patient was provided with long-term temporary crowns, which acted as a trial phase to test function, comfort, and aesthetics. During this period, we refined the smile design, optimized the anterior teeth’s length and angulation, and used MODJAW’s dynamic data to ensure the restorations worked harmoniously with his TMJ and natural jaw movements. The temporaries gave the patient a preview of his future smile, allowing adjustments to be made before proceeding with the final restorations.
The final phase was collaborating with RDT Dental Lab, where the patient’s permanent restorations were meticulously crafted. Each porcelain crown and porcelain veneer was designed to fit perfectly, restore proper function, and enhance the patient’s facial aesthetics. We achieved a seamless and natural appearance by replacing older restorations and harmonizing the smile. The result was a rejuvenated, youthful smile that restored the patient’s confidence and improved his overall quality of life.
The transformation was profound. The patient regained the ability to chew comfortably, speak clearly, and easily smile. His new beautiful smile enhanced his physical appearance and boosted his confidence, enabling him to engage socially without hesitation. Seeing his excitement as he shared his results with loved ones underscored our work's emotional and functional impact.
Why Choose Toronto Smile Design for Your Smile Makeover
At Toronto Smile Design—Yorkville Dental, we are committed to blending the art and science of dentistry to create results that are as functional as they are beautiful. Our expertise in cosmetic dentistry and advanced digital techniques ensures every patient receives a solution tailored to their needs. Whether you require a full-mouth rehabilitation or a cosmetic enhancement, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes.
We also provide comprehensive aftercare, ensuring patients understand how to maintain their smiles with good oral hygiene and proper dental practices. From addressing periodontal disease to managing medical conditions that may impact dental health, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Begin Your Journey to a Life-Changing Smile
Ready to transform your smile and enhance your quality of life? Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover how our cutting-edge digital dentistry can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
