I felt extremely comforted and taken care of by Dr Greenhalgh and his staff. They were very personable and made sure to build in time for questions. I was very pleased with my treatment and they helped me make choices to be sensitive to my budget. The consultation was well worth it and something I had never experienced before. I think they have a very unique and elite approach to dentistry.
My story is a little different but it's one I'm going to share ....with hopes that maybe someone can benefit as I have wished so many times to have a rewind button. Since I've been young I have really struggled with OCD/anxiety wanting everything to be perfect and symmetrical, I had always liked my teeth but for some reason I always thought they could be better.....it began with bonding a tooth with a gap....at the time I thought it looked OK but as time went on the tooth kept looking disfigured and like a flat square instead of a tooth. The dentist was really mean and not understanding. I told him the bonding didn't have any grooves like my other teeth had. I kept trying to make an appointment to adjust it just became more rude after that .... Then I did something I should've never done... I took an enamel bored and started doing the grooves myself.... To make a long story short five months later I found myself filing at all my teeth until they became disformed and I didn't recognize them.... I noticed I wasn't smiling anymore and I was trying to hide my teeth all the time I hated never smiling as I'm was usually the one who smiles all the time after a lot of research I found Dr. Greenhalgh ....I could not see anything I dislike from any of his work which is rare.....so I drive 7 hours round trip to see him for veneers.... I will post a photo of my teeth now and some of preliminary wax ups ... I feel really confident in the doctor that he will bring me back the joy I have taken from myself God bless everyone and will keep you guys updated Updated on 15 Oct 2015: This is my teeth before I messed with them it's like when you look at something for so long it looks dis formed... That's what happened to me now I would do anything to get back to what I was before teeth wise.... I'm hoping these Veneers will do just that Updated on 21 Nov 2015: Yesterday I had my temporaries put on. Dr greenhalgh was so extremely patient and considered everything I said .... It was a long day but we successfully got my teeth prepared and got temporaries on. In about 2 weeks I will have a meeting with the doctors cermanist and discuss what we want in the final veneers . I am hopeful we will get a great outcome... Thanks for reading ! Updated on 24 Nov 2015: I found a pic of the teeth I would love! Let me know what you Guys think. Updated on 25 Nov 2015: I hate the temps !!! One already broke :( I am Lloyd Christmas . I am set to get it fixed next week . God I need patience this is such a long process Updated on 3 Dec 2015: Well guys I'm not going to lie... This has been an emotional and long roller coaster so far. Thank God for dr greenhalghs bed side manner or I may have gone crazy! Yesterday I got the temps repaired and today they broke again :( it sucks because I really liked the length of the top 2 that he did.... But since my natura teeth weren't drilled down that much the temporaries are super thin and they do not want to stay on. I'm kind of scared about trying to last 1 month with them but I just need to take it day by day . I thank the dr for being patient with me. One of his assistants did say she was surprised of his patience (which made me feel like maybe I was being too picky?) thank God dr greenhalgh nicely told her that it is what he is there for and is wanting to heal past experiences that have hurt people before . Today I am getting the chipped repaired by a dentist who lives in town (as dr greenhalgh is about 3 and a half hoed away) I don't mind driving as long as my results are worth it. He has been amazing thus far and it's just going to have to be a very very patient procedure. Updated on 31 Dec 2015: Hey guys ... My finals are in... It has been quite a process... I will update you guys when I get a bit more time. Color is amazing ... Updated on 31 Dec 2015: Ok... Sorry I didn't complete it in the last post I was in the middle of something .... Well they placed the final veneers yesterday ...the color was perfect but when I got home my husband pointed out that they were too long . After looking in the mayor several times and taking a lot of pictures I agreed with him. The kind doctor saw me again today and readjusted the length and some width problems .... Here are some photos from outside and inside light Updated on 2 Jan 2016: Ahhh im starting to smile again... I haven't smiled in months and now it's coming back .... I am beyond happy so far.... Patience has been tough but so far worth it. Updated on 10 Jan 2016: Hey guys I need some opinions I've never recently started noticing some black borders forming on 3 of the gum edges does anyone know what this is? I've tried wiping it off but it almost seems to be under neath the glossiness of the veneers. Updated on 22 Jan 2016: Well contrary to some of your guys his beliefs I wasn't going crazy and the bonding was not a success and it started turning black at the edges I had to go in today and remove one Veneer. I'm going to get that one replaced and we were able to Sandown and fill-in the other black spots. I am glad my dentist stands behind his work and it's getting me all fixed up Updated on 22 Jan 2016: Here is a pic of the bonding and 1 temp Updated on 9 Feb 2016: Hey everyone thank you for being on this journey with me... I hope, in a good way, that it is come to an end. We got the new veneer on and did some touch ups and hopefully good to go for 10 years (wishful thinking) . Overall I have to say this was a very emotional tiring and rewarding journey . Dr greenhalgh and his staff are probably the best I've ever met . We had some ups and downs but in the final veneer end I can say I am happy and no longer in depression over these teeth. Thanks again for reading and here is a final look at my teeth now Updated on 7 Aug 2016: Hey guys sorry I haven't posted in months I was in the process of getting new veneers and I was emotionally exhausted. I got my new veneers on last week.... I love them! It's so crazy that every time I smile I feel like I'm going to start seeing black marks.... But they assured me that everything went great this time.... I don't think I could handle a 3rd time. As always the staff and doctor were the best I've encountered Updated on 28 Aug 2016: Thanks for everyone's great questions.... It was a hard decision for my redo. The most concerning thing was the back underneath which was very deep. I was almost afraid I wouldn't have enough enamel for a veneer. I was very discouraged for a long time and went back to not smiling and even more depressed I was paying so much money for a smile I wasn't even confident in.... You can imagine how that was. I didn't know whether to try and get a refund or just do a do over. My doctors confidence in himself made him the right choice to do my redo. Dr greenhalgh is truly remarkable .... He takes his time and is very very patient. I seriously love his staff and him. Anyhow.... We took off the old veneers and I we chose to go a different route this time and went with a lab instead of the ceramist on staff. I could not be more happy with this this far... They are a lot thinner, sleeker, and more natural then the first set. I was scared for about 2 weeks straight to look in the mirror because I feared they would be black again... But so far so good :):):):):):) ..... The shade was the same as far as I know (b1) but it does seem a lot more natural then the first ones ..... Let me know if I hit all the questions thank you Updated on 4 Nov 2016: Hey guys I'm happy to report I've he no problems and still all smiles . Dr Greenhalgh is the best there is ... In so glad I chose him . If you guys are in Denver I would definitely look him up!
I have been a patient of Dr. Greenhalgh for several years. He is kind, patient, thorough, and he makes sure that I am completely informed so that I am empowered be an engaged and active participant in my dental health care and planning. The people that work with Dr. Greenhalgh also go that extra step to create a comfortable, warm rapport, and I have only wonderful things to say about my experiences with everyone who I've known there.
A Consistently Great Experience
You asked a great question, and you are a good health consumer in that you are really searching for an answer that matches your goals. As a cosmetic dentist, the state of the art now is to pre-plan everything in 3D before starting any new care in your mouth.We use a planning technique called Digital Smile Design. I use video to see what your face and your smile are doing In Motion. This is a key, because that's how the rest of the world experiences our smile. With that I design a simulation that we can lay over your teeth BEFORE doing any work. We can both look to see how that matches your face and to show as much as you'd like.Once we both are happy with that design, then I can determine what can be done with Veneers, Braces or Invisalign, or both. We can set ALL of the goals BEFORE touching your teeth.Photo 8 shows the spacings and angulations. In your situation you might need BOTH treatments. Although MANY of these improvements could be accomplished just with Veneers.
Many people decide they'd like to get rid of their gap in their front teeth. The issue is--What's the BEST way to do that?As a Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, we take seriously the intention of "Responsible Esthetics". What that means to me, is let's get a great result, but with serious concern for the mildest approach possible for your teeth.To get a great cosmetic result you DO have to be aware of things like how the bite fits--it really can make or break the final outcome, so it sounds like your dentist is attending to the right concerns.You may be a candidate for No Prep veneers on just the front two teeth. That would be an amazing non-invasive approach!The other thing I'd want to evaluate is how making your front two teeth wider will match the rest of your smile. In some instances, adding width there can look too wide and unnatural. I would try in a simulation of the change so we both could look at it and make it it will look right BEFORE doing anything to your teeth. If the proportion doesn't look right, then you may need four veneers to make the spacing look right. That could still be done in a very mild approach.To wind up with a result that you really enjoy and you're GLAD you did it, make sure to have your most important questions answered BEFORE you begin any work on your teeth.
Yes, there is no problem to have retainers over your veneers. Some retainers now are clear and thin (like Invisalign), so those are no issue at all. Some of the "traditional" ones with a wire across the front always have some of that wire going over a space in your teeth to connect it to the part on the roof of your mouth. For some peoples bite alignment, you can wind up biting on those wires and I don't want that for my veneer patients.The other device we make is a combination retainer (without wires) and a clench-resistant guard. For most people this si the biggest risk over time-- clenching on your new bite or veneers. Those bad forces can move your teeth or chip porcelain.
You have wonderful questions, and really what you need is a practitioner who can manage both TMJ issues AND your cosmetic concerns. I'd start by addressing your jaw pain first. There are not a ton of successful TMJ dentists out there. Many general dentists don't want to treat these kind of issues.Your smile and lip display may change once the pain decreases. The other preliminary approach my patients have found helpful is using DSD- Digital Smile Design. With that we assess with video how your face is moving and then exactly where your smile should show. We often can just lay a simulation right over your teeth now so that we can both see what the new look will be and make sure that it addresses all of your concerns BEFORE you start any Smile Makeover or veneer treatments.Rarely, you may get some medical coverage for treatment of your TMJ, but in today's medical world with large deductibles, that's not often a real benefit. Many dental plans often have some coverage for Orthodontics or Invisalign, so "maybe" some coverage there.IF you've been really feeling self-conscious about this, you will be surprised at how you feel when it's the way you enjoy. I've seen patients get promotions because of their new level of confidence. You are young, the benefits of changing this will apply for decades!So address the TMJ pain first, then get a great cosmetic simulation with video to truly see what your path will be.
One very dark tooth is just hard to hide in your everyday smile.First, think about having Internal Whitening done, that can lighten the base color a LOT. Whether you have a few veneers or not, this makes for a better color blend across all of the front teeth.Many dentists CAN be this sort of whitening, but a Cosmetic Dentist will be able to get better results.Regarding how many veneers do you need, well, part of the answer depends upon how much you dislike the rest of your smile. IF you have other spaces or chips, then 4 veneers can make an amazing change.For this one dark tooth however, an extremely skilled cosmetic dentist and a Master Ceramist can make ONE veneer look like it matches. Even then, it can require extra time and some extra costs.Bottom line: find a great Cosmetic Dentist in your region, look at their before and after photos to see that they can get the results, then do whatever they recommend.