I was tickled to find out that when Barbara told her friends she wanted to find the top cosmetic dentist, her friends sent her to me. And, when I met Barbara, I didn’t realize she had a camera in her purse. Barbara carried a camera with her wherever she went. She wasn’t a photographer. In fact, she would describe herself as a “camera-phobe.” She wasn’t always searching for that perfect sunset or lighting. But she was always the one taking the photo of the family or group of friends. No one knew what Barbara knew: that no one takes a picture of a person holding a camera. You would never have guessed that beautiful, intelligent, outgoing, bubbly Barbara had a secret truth. You see, Barbara didn’t like her own smile. She didn’t like the way she looked when she smiled with closed lips, and she couldn’t stand the appearance of her “show-teeth” smile. So, every time she saw a photo of herself, it made her sad. She decided to research cosmetic dentistry, and after she consulted with me, she decided she wanted veneers. She asked me to improve her smile, and the results changed her life. Not only did she auction off her camera, she also stopped having headaches. She didn’t realize the same thing that was damaging her teeth (poorly aligned bite) was also causing her headaches.
I finished her case years ago, but she recently shared a story with me. She was on vacation and a man (stranger) from across the pool came over to her and said, “I just couldn’t help but come over to tell you that your smile is stunningly beautiful. It’s literally brightening up this entire resort!”
But here’s what Barbara has to say herself…..
“I was never one to sit around and pout about my bad smile. I had just accepted the fact that I had been a night time grinder for most of my 50+ years and my teeth showed it. And because I was not in love with my smile, I would never let anyone take a picture of me. I learn to take my camera to every event and activity. Not because I love photography so much; I just realized that no one takes pictures of other people holding cameras. After my Mother’s unexpected death in 2010, I received some inheritance money. Because I wanted to honor my Mother by spending her money on something she would be proud of, I investigated getting a new smile. I interviewed 4 different cosmetic dentists and came away with four different “plans of action”, cost structures and general feelings about each practice. It was a hands down decision to return to Atlanta Dental Spa and give Dr. Susan Estep the go ahead to re-vamp my smile. The staff at the office is wonderful and the environment is calming (which is unique for a dental office). Dr. Estep was very patient with me, very communicative, and gave me not only a new smile, but a more comfortable bite. I don’t wake up with the headaches I used to have and I can comfortable wear the night guard they gave me to protect my new smile! My friends initially wanted to know if I had gotten my teeth whitened and when I told then I had gotten a total smile makeover, they insisted that they did not realize I had bad teeth to begin with (I had always hid my smile.) I am so happy with the results and I know that my Mother is happy that I smile a lot more now. And, I put my camera on ebay! ”
And, after my daughter saw my results, she became overly self conscious about a tiny space between her two front teeth at the gum line. Dr Estep had me bring her in and they fixed her right up. She went off to college, ready for sorority rush, with a great new confident smile.