Clifford Yudelman, BDS - Account Suspended

Hi there this is Dr Clifford Yudelman here from OptiSmile Advanced Dentistry and Implant Centre Sea Point Cape Town.
Looking at these photos it's hard to say, depending on what they looked like before. We only use Invisalign 7 for very minor movements and most cases like yours we use Invisalign lite which is 14 aligners plus one set of refinement aligners only if necessary.
I think you're done with the ortho at this point since it sounds like they can't order any more aligners now.
Did you see the Clincheck on the computer before they approved it and did they scan you at the end to see if the teeth moved where they were supposed to? This is available on the iTero scanner from Invisalign and is called Treatment Progress Assessment.

Hi there this is Dr Clifford Yudelman here from OptiSmile Advanced Dentistry and Implant Centre Sea Point Cape Town.
I know you posted this ages ago and your treatment is probably over now. Hopefully it went well, whichever way you decided to go. I have seen good results from Invisalign with similar cases.

Hi there this is Dr Clifford Yudelman here from OptiSmile Advanced Dentistry and Implant Centre Sea Point Cape Town. I think it would be a good idea to post a few photos of your front teeth.
Before considering veneers you need to be sure that it's a last resort and not the only treatment that you are considering.
Offhand I would say that if your wisdom teeth are impacted they could cause infection and problems, and if you have spent your money on veneers and can't afford to remove your wisdoms, that could be a problem. Please read the article below that I wrote about this.

Sorry to hear about your loss of confidence due to your smile being damaged. I only saw this question now and it looks like a few years ago that you asked. Hopefully by now you've been treated and it all worked out OK.

Hi there this is Dr Clifford Yudelman here from OptiSmile Advanced Dentistry and Implant Centre Sea Point Cape Town. Sorry to hear about your discolored teeth. Teeth whitening, in my experience has been a economical and effective way to lighten these types of stains. My suggestion would be to have custom trays made at a qualified dentist, not a beauty salon, and to whiten with gel every day. After several months you should have a good result. It may not whiten at all, or you may still see some remnants of it, but overall it is the best way to proceed. Do not go straight for drilling and filling or multiple veneers.
Please see the link below for more information about teeth whitening.

Hi enthusiastic

It sounds like you are no longer enthusiastic about your new smile.
I'm so sorry to hear about this, and it is such a pity that you are unhappy. I really don't know what to advise that could be better: go back to the dentist who did it and tell them precisely what you think. Take a friend or relative with you so you don't feel overwhelmed by their authority should they try to impose it.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Dr clifford Yudelman
OptiSmile Cape Town

Hi there
Sorry to hear about your concern here. You can get help. In my experience here in Cape Town, Invisalign has successfully, in case after case, corrected similar issues in patients just like you.
When you research it, you will see that Invisalign is the original and has been around for over 20 years. They spend the most on research, and all their good technology is patented. They have treated over 13 million patients, so they have a massive mountain of data for product development.
Other aligner companies claim to be the same or better, quicker, cheaper, more precise.....you name it. After all, there can only be one genuine product. Invisalign wins!!

Hi there

My name is Clifford; I qualified as a dentist in 1983. So next year will mark 40 years that I have assisted patients like you with these questions.

I want to make my answer as straightforward as possible, so I will try to answer each statement/question separately and then possibly conclude with some ideas on what to do going forward.

I had bulimia for years as a teen, as well as a grinding habit.

ANSWER 1: on looking at the photos, it's not possible to see the palatal surfaces of your upper teeth. These areas are most often affected by the acid and regurgitation contents.
I don't see any signs of grinding causing severe wear to your eye teeth and premolars. I also don't see any thinning of your upper teeth. So I have great news for you! I think your teeth look fantastic.

I'm looking for a way to enhance my smile, so I'm not so insecure about it anymore.

ANSWER 2:
I can see that you feel insecure about your smile and your history of grinding and bulimia. Still, as far as I can see from your photos, the main drawback of a perfect smile is your dental arches could benefit from widening and rounding out the triangular arch form into a nice big white smile.
Either braces or clear aligners would work.
My Choice for you would be Genuine Invisalign with an experience level of gold or platinum at least. They should also be using the iTero scanner. Make sure it is Invisalign, there are a lot of copies out there, claiming all kinds of stuff.

I have some craze lines on my front two teeth and lower front teeth (as well as mild erosion on the bottom front two).

ANSWER 3:
Craze lines are normal and not a sign of grinding or bulimia if you whiten your teeth with custom gel trays and 6% HP dispensed by a professional dentist who has examined your teeth.

I am afraid of veneers since I want to be considerate of my natural tooth health.
ANSWER 4:
That is an excellent reason, and you are 100% correct. However, veneers would do nothing for your teeth other than damage them forever. Especially if the dentist told you he would also straighten your teeth with these magic veneers.

Would cosmetic bonding be possible?

ANSWER 5:
If you need bonding, then the latest technique for bonding uses a 3D scan, special software called DSD digital smile design, and 3D printed models.
The dentist uses a very clear silicon mould over the model and can then place this over your tooth. Next, he squirts a liquid ceramic over your tooth, taking the shape of the mould. Finally, a special light is used to harden this porcelain-like material.
The mould is lifted, and the perfect new tooth is effortlessly polished.

Would zoom whitening hide the cracks?

ANSWER 6:

Zoom whitening uses a very bright and warm light. So I do not recommend it in your case. Instead, I recommend take-home trays with an alternative product that your dentist can recommend. In your case, I would use one of the four favourites we use at OptiSmile in Cape Town. The one I would use for you is the only one that has the patented "NOVON" technology. I am not in love with the brand name, but it's a good product. It's called "White Dental Beauty". While you are whitening, blotches and cracks may appear more noticeable. In a few days after you are done, and the saliva rehydrates the tooth; most people look amazing.

Hi Alex

On the contrary, Invisalign gives an experienced dentist freedom to move teeth into just about any position. Many dentists in South Africa advertise Invisalign when they are not active providers or lack gold or Platinum status as certified Invisalign providers. You should always go to the official Invisalign provider directory to ensure that the chosen provider is currently providing Invisalign or knows what it can do in the hands of an experienced provider.

Warm regards from Sea Point, Cape Town

Dr Clifford Yudelman

Hi Tsepang
That is a good question. Once the gold is removed, you should try to avoid getting it replaced with a full crown. I would also recommend asking the dentist for alternatives to porcelain veneers. Many dentists who don't know better may say that you need to do two or even four veneers to make your teeth look great again...that is not the case.
Modern techniques available in the last three years include taking a digital 3D scan and designing a perfect shape tooth on a special DSD or digital smile design software. The dentists print a very accurate plastic life-size model and use transparent silicon to make a mould. When you return for the treatment, the gold will be removed without damaging the rest of your tooth or drilling away any more enamel. This looks like it will require a dental anaesthetic injection to numb the area. Special glue is applied to your remaining tooth, and the clear mould is placed over what's left of your tooth. Now comes the magic!! The dentist injects a unique liquid ceramic through a pinhole to cover all the broken or missing parts of your tooth and stick very firmly to all your remaining enamel. A bright light is shone on the tooth, and it hardens. When the silicone is removed, the tooth is perfect, just like on the computer and printed model. A quick polish, and it looks fantastic. Your new tooth is exceptionally strong. The best thing is you didn't need to drill away any enamel or bond ceramic over the front of the whole tooth. Your other teeth are untouched.
Warm regards from Cape Town.
Dr Clifford Yudelman