A beautiful smile can improve confidence, make lasting first impressions, and even encourage better oral health. As a cosmetic dentist practicing in California, I often receive questions about porcelain veneers, crowns, and dental implants. Here are straightforward answers to the questions patients ask most often.
The wind whipped off Lake Michigan, carrying the festive scent of pine and roasting chestnuts down Michigan Avenue. Inside a cozy Lincoln Park apartment, the scene was decidedly less cheerful. Sarah, a normally meticulous graphic designer, stared in disbelief at the small porcelain cap resting in her palm. Her 11-year-old crown on tooth #19—a molar she had babied, flossed around religiously, and questioned for over a decade—had just come loose during a bite of her mother’s famous gingerbread.
This case presents two distinct, critical dental issues in different parts of the mouth, requiring immediate professional attention.
The first image clearly shows a molar (likely the second molar) with extensive tooth decay.
For Jonas, a sharp presentation was key to closing deals. A successful year in his Toronto-based consulting business meant he was financially ready to invest in himself. But a chipped front tooth from an old sports injury had long been a source of self-consciousness, holding back his smile in both boardrooms and social settings.
Patients with lower front gum inflammation may also experience tartar buildup, periodontal disease, gum abscesses, or tooth decay. Explore these related clinical case studies.
