Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition

HYGIENE TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Hygiene Newspaper ·U.S. Edition June 2012 — Vol. 5, no. 5 www.dental-tribune.com snaponsmile) for my big L.A. adventure. First an alginate impression was made as a study model to check my bite. Then a rubber-base-type material was used for a second impression, which was sent off via FedEx along with a shade and thickness choice. Rent-a-smile Two weeks later my new maxillary “smile line” arrived. Not quite ready to invest in 10 veneers, I’m willing to “rent” them via a temporary fix. Coworkers muttered, “Why are you doing this? I would kill for your teeth!” I could legitimately say that I was going to be in a student film in Hollywood; but real- ly, I secretly wanted to know what I looked like with ear- to-ear veneers. I discuss cosmetic dentistry with my patients on a weekly basis, so why couldn’t I practice what I preach? I brightened up my man- dibular arch with Henry Shein’s new Sheer White whitening films. Great ad- hesion ensured that even the cuspids were up to OM1 within two hours. I expect- ed sensitivity or gingival blanching with 20 percent carbamide peroxide, but there was none. What I liked about my new “snappy teeth” was the even incisal line and the masked, dark bicuspid. What I didn’t like was the bulkiness of the cuspid and my shade choice. While it matched my lower arch, Denmat’s S1 (or OM1) looks better on natural teeth than it does on synthetic. The product is ideally suited for patients with esthetically unpleasant teeth or missing teeth. Perfect if they have a big occasion coming up and don’t wish to have extensive dental work. Sometimes even a dental professional needs a little visual motivation to get those perma- nent crowns done to mask the obvious. My reinvented self after film boot camp has given me a fresh perspective on business appearances and stereo- types. The growing pains of the film industry, while making the switch from celluloid to digital, reminded me of our changes in dentistry. Older filmmakers resist the transition for artistic reasons but admit there are great cost-reduction benefits. Others insist the technology of digital will mature and the craft will maintain its artistic depth. I listened at- tentively as a cameraman spoke of the wrist pain he experiences using the smaller digital camera vs. the old shoul- der-borne style. I’ve never had to hold a camera for hours, but wrist pain; I can relate to that. I’m ready for my close-up now Mr. Spielberg. Perhaps our collaborative blockbuster film could be titled “Close Encounters of the 32 Kind.” My first stu- dent film can be found at www.youtube. com/watch?v=NvbWGPjus4g. I opted for director in this one. After 30 years of clinical practice and only a few in journalism, I decided it was time to learn about digital filmmak- ing. I signed up for a week of intensive training at Universal Studios. After two months of diligent home study, the last- minute, girly girl travel preparations began: Spray tan? Check. Shellac nails? Check. Teeth bleached? Check. Ear-to- ear veneers at the last minute? Hmm. Perhaps not. Not enough time and not enough cash. Sure, I’ve dreamed about retiring from dentistry with perfect “Hollywood” teeth. In form and function, I’m in tip- top shape. But I am certainly not a mag- azine cover girl. Sometimes I wonder what my “smile line” will look like when I’m an old biddy in spite of my night- guard. I plead my vanity is genetic. My mother asked about braces to move one shifting lateral when she was 80. Ear-to-ear vaneers Recently, while watching a favorite ac- tress in a 1999 movie, I couldn’t help but fixate on her overly dark bicuspids. They weren’t there for her last major film, and yet; even 20 years ago, she was certainly a millionaire. Have Hollywood’s de- mands for perfection changed? Perhaps she finally allowed herself to indulge in ear-to-ear veneers since she is now “of a certain age.” I anticipated being in a New York Film Academy movie. What if that easy, broad smile of mine shows my amalgam- stained (and slightly lingually rotated) pesky bicuspid? Normally I would say, “Who cares!” But this is Tinseltown, where everyone is beautiful — even without airbrushing. Perhaps absolutely perfect ear-to-ear teeth would look too artificial. Would I loose my unique cul- tural characteristics? As the saying goes, I have the “map of Ireland on my face.” Leprechaun ears notwithstanding, I decided to try out a temporary dive into the realm of perfection. Dr. Paul Ayotte of Clinton, Conn., fabricated a Snap On Smile (Denmat, www.denmat.com/ A hygienist goes to Hollywood Call of Tinseltown presents perfect opportunity to pursue perfect teeth By Patricia Walsh, RDH, Hygiene Tribune Editor in Chief PaTRiCia WalSH, RDH, BS, has been a clinical dental hygienist for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of the Fones SchoolofDentalHygiene, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She has an extensive history in international volunteer work in oral health. She was instrumental in the creation of The Thailand Dental Project, a volunteer program focused on providing educational, preventive and restorative dental care to children in a tsunami affected region of Thailand. She may be contacted at pwalshrdh@uberhygienist.com. Heading to film-school boot camp, Patricia Walsh, RDH, prepares for a potential close-up by practicing what she preaches to patients: getting a few cosmetic touch-ups. Photos/ Provided by Patricia Walsh, RDH