The Confidence Shift by Dr. Patrick Hoy
This looks amazing!
I don’t know why I waited so long!
I can’t stop smiling!
I feel so much better about my smile.
I can’t believe how good it looks!
I love it!
Unbelievable.
Fabulous.
I never knew I could feel so good about my smile.
I smile everywhere I go now.
Health is our most valuable currency, and having a healthy, beautiful smile is a wonderful feeling. But it’s not just about the teeth; it’s about you — how you feel, who you are, and who you want to be. Your smile can radiate warmth, provide reassurance, and create connection. It’s about walking into a room, shaking hands, and smiling confidently when meeting someone for the first time. It’s about not worrying about how your teeth look when you’re taking a photo or laughing, about being able to enjoy your life, and about feeling good about the way you look. Even though the most obvious thing about a smile is how it looks, it goes much deeper than that.
Healthy teeth and gums contribute to a person’s overall well-being beyond just physical appearance. Many systems are involved in your tooth and gum health. For example, a healthy mouth contains digestive enzymes that directly support nutrient absorption. Your vascular system and your risk of heart attack and stroke are influenced by plaque buildup in your mouth, gum disease, and abscessed teeth. Overgrowth of harmful bacteria can enter your bloodstream from abscessed teeth and cause systemic inflammation. Mental health can be affected if you’re reluctant to smile because you’re embarrassed by your teeth. On a biological level, smiling has been shown to reduce stress and trigger the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Smiling helps regulate cortisol levels, lowers heart rate, and sends out feel-good neurotransmitters. There are so many reasons to have and maintain a healthy smile. However, in my clinical practice, I’ve seen many patients suffering and feeling uneasy about their smiles. How does that happen?
“Smile reconstruction is considered cosmetic dentistry, but it is much more involved.”
Stress, nutrition, diet, lifestyle, and genetics all play a role in our dental health. When cosmetic dental work is done piecemeal over the years, it can become visually or functionally awkward, much like home renovations done piecemeal. At some point, it becomes noticeable that colors don’t match, the teeth are different sizes, or the bite is off. Eating may even become more difficult. After a person has had a lot of dental work, it’s hard to know whether there is more that can be done. Luckily, modern dentistry has a solution that can restore balance and harmony to a smile and really improve quality of life. But there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every person is treated individually and receives a custom treatment plan tailored to their needs, from a single tooth problem to their entire smile if that is what they require or want.
Any work done on teeth that are visible in a smile could be considered cosmetic dentistry, but there is a significant difference between smile reconstruction and general cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry can include a filling on a front tooth, a single crown, or a veneer. It can also include orthodontics like braces or Invisalign to straighten and improve the position of the teeth. Smile reconstruction is considered cosmetic dentistry, but it is much more involved. We start by taking 3-D images of the patient’s teeth and combining them with photos of the patient’s face and smile. We then digitally create a smile design that fits the patient’s facial structure and smile to optimize comfort and function. We can also match the patient’s preferences for the shape, style, length, size, and color of the teeth. The goal is for each patient to achieve optimal results for aesthetics and function, taking into account facial and jaw structure, patient goals, and overall health. Smile reconstruction usually involves numerous teeth, from six or eight front teeth to full-mouth rehabilitation. It takes a more whole-patient approach to dental care. For patients with multiple dental concerns or prior dental work, smile reconstruction is a much more comprehensive solution than general cosmetic dentistry.
There are many misconceptions about smile reconstruction and cosmetic dentistry. One is that it must be painful. Not true. When done correctly, your experience should never be painful. I take numerous steps to ensure my patients are as comfortable as possible during any procedure. Another misconception is that smile makeovers look fake or obvious. We’ve all seen people with teeth that seem too white or too big—you can tell that dental work has been done. When done correctly, the smile should look and feel natural, and that is always my goal. When I design a smile, I put great effort into making the experience comfortable for the patient, giving them the smile they want, and ensuring it looks and feels effortless.
“They can smile with comfort and confidence and focus on other aspects of life.”
I have had patients cry when they see the results of their smile reconstruction for the first time. The emotion in the room is overwhelming, and I find myself swept up in their excitement, joy, and relief. After years of a smile they’ve been self-conscious or ashamed of, finally being able to smile is an incredible thing. Interacting, smiling, and laughing come easily when there’s no longer any worry about the appearance of their teeth. Being able to eat, drink, and chew without pain enables them to live better, be happier, be healthier, feel good, and look their best. Smile reconstruction focuses on aesthetics, but when I’m creating these custom smiles for my patients, a big part of that is ensuring everything is balanced and that they can keep everything clean and healthy.
The long-term maintenance and care of treatments like dental implants, gum grafts, veneers, and crowns are very similar to that of natural teeth. Preventive care is crucial. It is important not only for maintaining your natural teeth but especially if you have had dental work done. So much of your oral health is connected to the rest of your body that the better you take care of your teeth and gums, the better your overall health will be. Brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings are essential to ensure lasting results. Ideally, we would all like treatments to last a lifetime. There is no expiration date on the materials we use. If everything is done properly and well cared for, they can last decades. Usually, healthy mouth checkups and cleanings are every six months. But your dentist may recommend more often, depending on your individual oral health needs. Pain or sensitivity is one sign that something might not be right. Discoloration of the tooth or restoration is another signal. These may indicate that the restorations are no longer sealed and bacteria may be getting underneath them, causing tooth decay.
People need connection to thrive. A smile creates connection. The appearance of someone’s smile can give a huge boost to their confidence and self-image. They don’t have to worry or feel anxious about their smile. They can focus on other things without worrying about the appearance or function of their teeth. Healthy teeth and gums enable them to be who they want to be without the distraction of self-consciousness. They can smile with comfort and confidence and focus on other aspects of life.
It is my goal to create smiles that look beautiful—natural, healthy teeth that look and function as they should. I always see the person behind a patient’s smile, and I take a personal approach to each case to achieve the most natural outcome. I want my patient to shine, not the work I do. Getting the aesthetics right and designing the teeth and gums for long-term health go hand in hand. It is my plan to improve and maintain your smile and oral health for the rest of your life. What happens when you finally love your smile? You use it more often, others smile back, and we all have one more reason to smile!
