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My Smile Makeover Story - Rob
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As the owner of three restaurants, I’m frequently in the public eye. But having worn my teeth down from years of grinding, I became self-conscious of my smile. My teeth looked short and there was a lack of support, which caused my face to sink in. My smile was affecting my appearance and confidence, and I realized it was time to seek treatment.

MY CONSULTATION   During my initial consultation with Dr. Mladen Kralj, I stressed that I didn’t want my smile to look unnatural. Dr. Kralj recommended a full set of veneers and crowns to restore my teeth to their original condition and protect against further damage. He showed me before-and-afters of previous makeovers, and took photos of my smile andteeth from a variety of angles. We then reviewed shape, shade and size options for my new smile. At my second visit, Dr. Kralj and I finalized the remaining details. He took impressions of my teeth for study models and more photographs of my smile.

What Dr. Kralj says:  To rejuvenate Rob’s smile, we decided to use 20 porcelain veneers on the front teeth, along with laser gum contouring to improve aesthetics, and 8 porcelain crowns on the back teeth to restore function.”

TEST DRIVING MY SMILE   I returned 10 days later for the ‘trial-smile’ part of my makeover. Dr. Kralj explained that I would wear temporary veneers and crowns for a week so I could evaluate them. He first administered local anesthesia so I wouldn’t feel anything. My teeth were slightly reshaped to make room for the veneers and crowns. A laser was used to redefine my gum line, impressions were taken and the temporary restorations were placed and then adjusted. A few hours later, the procedure was complete and I was amazed at how life-like the temporaries looked and felt. After wearing them for one week, I told Dr. Kralj what I liked about my trial smile so he could recreate the results in the final restorations.

What Dr. Kralj says:  “We created a diagnostic wax-up model of Rob’s smile to envision the proper size, shape and bite relationship, which would then be transferred to his temporary veneers and crowns for evaluation of aesthetics, function and phonetics.”

PROCEDURE DAY   Three weeks later, I returned for my permanent veneers and crowns. After administering local anesthesia, the temporaries were removed, and my teeth were disinfected. The veneers and crowns were placed, one by one, and permanently bonded in place. Once the procedure was complete Dr. Kralj adjusted my bite and polished my teeth. He then created a night guard appliance to prevent me from damaging my new teeth. When the anesthetic wore off, I was a little tired, but wasn’t in pain.

THE RESULTS   Since the procedure, I constantly find myself smiling. While most people don’t know I had cosmetic dental work done, I’ve received compliments on my appearance. My smile looks better than it has in years. I now look as young as I feel, and couldn’t be happier!

What Dr. Kralj says:  “Advances in restorative materials, techniques and technology have made durable, natural-looking smiles available to patients. With proper care, Rob can expect his new smile to last at least 20 years.

ABOUT THE EXPERT With two practice locations in downtown Chicago, cosmetic dentist Mladen Kralj, DMD, spends a great deal of time creating naturally beautiful smiles. Whether patients seek porcelain veneers, crowns, Invisalign, or Zoom! whitening, Dr. Kralj possesses the advanced training, state-of-the-art technology and years of experience to accommodate a variety of aesthetic concerns. A member of multiple affiliations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, Dr. Kralj is dedicated to his patients and his field with the goal of delivering the highest caliber of reliable aesthetic and restorative care in the privacy of a modern, relaxed environment.
 


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