Today we live in a health and beauty-conscious society where a pleasing appearance often means the difference between success and failure in both our personal and professional lives.

Since the mouth is one of the focal points of the face, the smile is very significant in how we perceive ourselves, and how others respond to us. If your feel good about your smile, you are more likely to give the impression of an open approachable person. You may also reflect to others an amicable and cordial personality.

If, on the other hand, you are dissatisfied with your smile, you may suffer from low self-esteem. Others may see you as unhappy or unfriendly putting you at a disadvantage, and possibly causing undue embarrassment and distress.

If you would like to see how we could help you improve your smile, call for a consultation with Dr. Fallon. It takes about 30 minutes and it's free - our gift to you. Before you call, however, take a few minutes and get to know Dr. Fallon and the rest of the staff, on the next few pages of DanaFallon.com.

Cosmetic Facts:

"I need a face lift and some dental work... which should I do first?"

Do the dental treatment first. A good aesthetic dentist will give your face the support it needs so that your lips and cheeks have the proper lift. By doing so, you'll have the required muscle support in your face to its physiological position. That way, when you get a face lift, the final result will look much more natural without that unappealing, "pulled-back" look around your check area.

"My smile is crooked, what can I do about it?"

Although orthodontics is the ideal way for children and young adults to correct this condition, sometimes an alternative using restorative treatment with bonding, laminating or full crowns can make a pleasing result. As an adult, bonding or laminate/veneers can achieve aesthetically correct results in two visits or less.

"My crown in the front doesn't match my teeth -- it looks fake. What can be done?"

A skilled aesthetic dentist will not only match the color and contour of the adjacent teeth, but your smile will look just as natural as it did before getting the crown. Check for a highly skilled aesthetic dentist near you if your not happy with your existing crowns.

"Why should I spend a lot of money on a root canal? Why not just pull the tooth?"

Losing a tooth can be the beginning of many more lost teeth. Saving the tooth maintains space, keeps other teeth from shifting, and eliminates the need and cost of a bridge or implant and crown. Although seemingly expensive, it is actually quite cost effective.

"What's the difference between bonding and porcelain laminate veneers?"

Bonding is a tooth colored (composite) resin material that is light activated and done in one visit (little tooth reduction, no anesthesia required). Porcelain laminate/veneers can mask dark stains better with a more durable porcelain material. They are very thin veneers of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth. Although this procedure takes two visits, laminate/veneers are stronger than bondings and less prone to staining.

"I have a space between my two front teeth. How can it be closed?"

There are several ways in which this can be corrected:
1. Bonding (one visit); will correct discoloration and shape of teeth.
2. Porcelain laminate/veneers (two visits); will correct discoloration and shape of teeth.
3. Orthodontics; requires multiple visits and cannot correct color or shape of teeth.
Again, seek the advice of your dental health professional to choose the procedure that's best for you.

"If I require fillings, what type should I get?"

Where silver (amalgam) and gold were all that were used in the past for fillings in back teeth, dental health professionals frequently use tooth-colored porcelain or composite materials that are strong and extremely wear resistant. You can even give your teeth a "face lift" by removing your old metal fillings and replacing them with "invisible" ones. Be sure to ask your own clinician about the advisability of this process.

"I have a "gummy" smile... can anything be done?"

With the advent of laser dentistry, this can be done very easily and painlessly in most cases. Dr. Fallon uses the Diode Laser, a newly-developed laser that can effectively change the look and shape of the gums. Tissue sculpting (gingivectomy) is an important adjunct to achieving a beautiful, more natural, healthy smile.