November 17, 2005 • ISSUE 56 / VOLUME 1

Can your smile make or break you?

Whatever your smile looks like, it can be improved

Ask your dentist to see before and after pictures of your teeth so you can see for yourself how much your smile has improved with treatment.

Dr. Jonathan Okabe

What's the first thing you look at when you first meet someone? It's their smile, or lack of it. Have you ever felt that you would get ahead if you could smile more? Are you not smiling a lot because you're self-conscious about smiling?

An important part of success is the overall impression you make. More than 90 percent of adults state that an attractive smile is an important social asset, and over 70 percent agree that an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chance for career success.

Until recently, people were usually stuck with what they have. Today, advanced techniques and materials used by dentists can make a real difference in your smile. People with stained or dull teeth can have them brightened with whitening, a safe and effective way to whiten teeth. In-office and supervised at-home whitening systems are available. At-home systems should be individually fitted and monitored by your dentist.

People with chipped, cracked or worn teeth can consider ways to cover unsightly teeth with veneers, bonding or crowns. Veneers are made of ultra-thin laminates that can be fitted over the teeth to disguise them. Bonding is a process where a tooth-colored material is applied to a tooth's surface and sculpted to an ideal shape. Crowns can be used to restore severely decayed or broken teeth. They can be made of tooth-colored materials, or metals such as gold, and will fit over the teeth, even replacing the parts that are broken or decayed.

Bridge work also can be used to replace missing teeth. New technology is available to make these entire replacements look like real teeth.

People with crooked or crowded teeth can benefit from orthodontics to reposition, straighten or close those gaps between the teeth. Options include "invisible" braces that you can't see when you have them on.

Whatever your problem is, there is a dentist out there with the skill, experience and expertise to help your smile. The first step should be letting your dentist know what you want and asking about the best ways to do it. If you don't have a regular dentist yet, look for one with extensive experience in the cosmetic dentistry field. Ask your friends for a referral. Ask someone who has a really great smile.

Next, set up an initial appointment to discuss what you want and your concerns. Talk with the dentist about options that are available. Ask to see before and after pictures so you can see how your smile can be improved. Once you've decided what you want, the dentist will develop a specific, individual plan just for you.

Last but not least, look forward to enjoying the benefits of your new smile. Dr. Jonathan Okabe has loads of experience and skill in this exiting field. He uses both science and artistry to help individuals create the smile they most desire.

Okabe Dental Arts is conveniently located at 1221 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 620, at the corner of Pensacola and Kapiolani. Call 596-0837 to make an appointment for a "masterpiece smile."