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Test-Driving Future Treatment with Smile Transitions™

November 28, 2023
Author
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Taylor Manalili, DDS, DICOI
Test-Driving Future Treatment with Smile Transitions™

As dentists, we’re privileged to see firsthand just how impactful our work is on the lives of patients. While the transformational power of dentistry cannot be overstated, the truth is that care can be prohibitively expensive for patients — limiting many from seeking out professional treatment options. That’s why affordability is one of Glidewell’s guiding principles when developing new solutions.

At Glidewell, in addition to meeting clinical and esthetic demands, our services must be priced so that dentists can serve patients from all walks of life.

For patients who may not be able to commit financially, Glidewell offers Smile Transitions™ cosmetic appliances, a full-arch solution with the power to immediately transform a smile. These affordable appliances simply slip over the patient’s natural dentition without requiring tooth preparation or cementation. They serve as a temporary smile makeover that enables patients to test-drive future treatment.

CASE REPORT

Figure 1a - patient's missing anterior teeth that was removed at a young age
Figure 1b - patient's teeth

Figures 1a, 1b: The patient presented with missing anterior teeth that had been removed at a young age in her home country. She described the many difficulties in her adult life, having lived so long without permanent treatment. However, she had never had the financial means to secure lasting care.

Figure 2a - Smile Transitions™
Figure 2b - diagnostic wax-up
Figure 2c - Smile Transitions appliance

Figures 2a–2c: As an interim solution, I decided to provide a Smile Transitions™ appliance while we treatment-planned definitive restorative care. These low-cost appliances only require preoperative impressions, from which a diagnostic wax-up is created. This design is then translated into the Smile Transitions appliance. Smile Transitions appliances slip directly over the patient’s natural teeth, masking missing dentition and providing added function. Though they are not a permanent solution, they can be worn for up to one year, giving patients the ability to live with an enhanced smile while they save for definitive treatment.

Figure 3a - Smile Transitions appliance was slipped over the untreated dentition (inside look)
Figure 3b - Smile Transitions appliance was slipped over the untreated dentition (outside look)

Figures 3a, 3b: Once returned from the lab, the Smile Transitions appliance was slipped over the untreated dentition.

Figure 4a - Patient before photo
Figure 4b - Patient after photo

Figures 4a, 4b: Though Smile Transitions appliances are a very simple solution, they offer life-changing results, provide an immediate smile makeover and demonstrate to the patient what’s possible with restorative dentistry. If you compare her demeanor from the initial photo to the final photo, you can clearly see how much bigger and more confidently she smiles.

CONCLUSION

With just a set of impressions and a low-cost appliance, dental practitioners have the power to improve a patient’s everyday life — not just their oral health but also their relationships and self-image. Smile Transitions appliances help patients understand how restorative dentistry can enhance their lives, without first needing to overcome the significant costs associated with definitive treatment.