BEFORE & AFTERS
It is Dr. Rifkin’s unrelenting mission to provide every patient with aesthetic dentistry that they are thrilled with. The result should be one that is natural in appearance, not "over done" and which is of the highest quality and longevity possible. The real test of any dentist is results. Below are before and after photos documenting the results of Dr. Rifkin’s actual dental patients, so you can see the quality of care for yourself.
VENEERS
This patient presented with worn and chipped teeth that had bonding which was discolored and wearing out. The poor fit of the old direct bonding caused her gum tissue to be inflamed from the bacteria. She wanted a more permanent and healthy solution. Six porcelain veneers were placed after oral hygiene instructions and excellent homecare was demonstrated. Note the beautiful healthy gum tissue around all margins of the six veneers. Precision is everything in dentistry to eliminate bacteria and create long-lasting and healthy restorations.The use of a dental operating microscope both clinically and in the laboratory results in smooth and uninterrupted fit of the restorations and the elimination/reduction of bacteria. The foundation for beautiful smiles is also a healthy one. When judging a cosmetic dentist’s work always ask for untouched photos of the health of the gum tissue around the veneers or restorations. Never settle for just teeth and lips, always look at the gums!
This case is an example of the lack of precision that can occur with the dentist who is not mindful of being gentle with the gum tissue and using magnification such as a dental operating microscope.
Note the severe inflammation around the veneers on the left and how well resolved and healed the tissue is an example on the right. Correction involved minor gingival surgery to illuminate the inflamed and bleeding gum tissue followed by precision temporaries and time to heal. Once the healing occurred and only then should the final veneers be placed.
Remember cosmetic dentistry must always be built upon a foundation of health and proper function.
Injectables
A beautiful smile doesn’t always require 10 or 20 veneers. “Do the right thing!“ Sometimes it’s just much better to look at the total composition and whiten the teeth and blend the lips to the entire face for the optimal natural smile. I love augmenting lips with injectables.
Restorative Porcelaine Veneers
This reconstruction case was performed with custom Facially Designed porcelain veneers and all ceramic crowns to correct the patients failing older Metal-ceramic restorations, eliminate decay, perfect her smile and ensure optional function and health. Over time, cemented or bonded restorations begin to experience breakdown of the bonding cement enabling bacteria to penetrate beneath and cause decay and staining. One extremely important aspect of any dental restoration is the precision fit which should be seamless and minimize the bacteria that accumulates along any edge. Bacteria in the mouth also penetrate through the gum tissue and enter the body’s circulatory system which means it’s a systemic infection as well as an oral one. There is no separation in the body. Please take a close look at the health of the gum tissue next to the ceramic restorations. This is a very important characteristic of the quality that the dentist and laboratory perform. When viewing smile makeovers on social media always look at the gum tissue as well as the beauty and natural look of the veneers and ceramics. If the photograph doesn’t show the gum tissue health as well you should ask to see beneath the lips. Red puffy or irritated gum tissue around Dental Restorations is a sign of disease and poor health coming from poor craftsmanship and lack of attention to details and health. Ask the prospective dentist if he or she uses some sort of optical magnification such as loupes at the very least and optimally a Dental Operating Microscope 🔬. This is also true of the Dental laboratory technicians that he or she uses. There is no substitute for quality of craftsmanship and experience in medicine and dentistry. Don’t be fooled by hype or limited clinical photos. Do your homework and learn how to choose the best dentist for your Smile And your Health.
Porcelain Veneer
This smile makeover reflects the desire of the patient to close spaces, whiten and broaden her smile pushing the limits of natural as she wanted a bigger brighter flashier smile.
Treatment included 10 upper veneers and four lower veneers as well as gum leveling of two upper incisors to balance the lengths and proportions of the teeth. All smiles are unique and designed to the patient’s face lip and unique personal aesthetic sense.
No two smiles are alike but they all must be based upon the foundation of health and function. This is why using minimally invasive techniques and technologies such as the dental operating microscope insures precision fit of restorations and optimal gingival health.
This is why most often I show not only the smile but also the retracted view of healthy gum tissue around the veneers which is a telltale sign of the skill and precision of the dentist and dental laboratory technician.
Porcelain Veneers
Not all patients with gaps in their front teeth need to have them closed. Some gaps are beautiful and represent the individual “persona”.
But when there are multiple gaps that are asymmetric, patients really don’t like their smiles. My dear friend and patient Ta’Rhonda Jones from the TV show Empire had such an asymmetry with multiple gaps. In her case, minor gum lifting and a combination of porcelain veneers was a minimally invasive method to close the spaces giving her a beautiful symmetrical smile.
Smile Makeover 8 Veneers & minor Gum Lifting
Here is a smile makeover with veneers and minor gum lifting to improve the color shape and character of this beautiful young lady’s teeth. Facial harmony is essential. Looking at her beautiful youthful rounded facial features and matching her teeth add to the sense of natural beauty and undetectable dentistry. Cases similar to this can typically be performed within 1 to 2 weeks.
DENTAL IMPLANT & VENEERS
This smile reconstruction on a very difficult case from the patient's facial and spinal trauma resulting in the loss of one tooth and fracture of two others.
It was also aesthetically challenging due to the high smileline showing not only teeth but also gum tissue.
It was essential that in the final result we create an ideal gum line and natural tooth form and facial harmony. In this patient's case we used 2 porcelain veneers, 1 dental implant, a custom healing abutment, a zirconia abutment, and 1 emax crown to achieve a very natural and believable reconstruction of his smile and function.
As with every case Dr. Laurence Rifkin uses a dental operating microscope 🔬when preparing a patient's teeth to ensure we preserve as much tooth structure as possible and is able to ensure the health of the gum tissue by the precision fit of the restorations.
Precision diagnosis, use of cone beam CT scan, dental operating microscope, precision treatment execution in all aspects of surgery, restorative and laboratory procedures are keys to success with this and all dental treatments.
DENTAL VENEERS
Creating that “perfect Natural Hollywood Masculine Smile” is a balancing act of art science and design communication between the patient’s aesthetic preference as well as myself and my team.
My personally developed, step by step system of aesthetic predictability (The Rifkin Method) has served me well over decades to create that unique optimal smile for the individual patient which is their smile signature.
I design, I test, I refine until the final result is achieved.
ORTHO & DENTAL VENEERS
This case was the result of sick months of removable orthodontics with a conventional retainer appliance in combination with some minor tooth shaping, teeth whitening, and only two veneers on the patient’s canine teeth.
This patient is an actress and model and under harsh studio lighting the crowded and overlapped teeth created shadows which her photographer was always having to photoshop. Sometimes simple combination solutions require complex thinking and end up being the best result.
All treatment including orthodontics performed by Dr. Laurence Rifkin
ORTHO & DENTAL IMPLANTS
ED HELMS: HANGOVER MISSING TOOTH - DENTAL IMPLANT
FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION
Decayed and broken down teeth are not only a cosmetic issue but it’s a significant health risk. This wonderful young man not only transformed his teeth and his health but also built his self-esteem and changed his career.
Multiple procedures to obtain optimal health were accomplished by a combination of root canal’s oral hygiene, dental implants, crowns, veneers, inlays. Cosmetic treatment must always be on a foundation of health, function and predictability. Success is no accident.
PORCELAIN VENEERS
Here is an example of an Extremely Natural Cosmetic smile makeover utilizing six porcelain veneers on a foundation of minimally invasive teeth preparations and optimal gingival health. Health should never be compromised for aesthetics. “When evaluating cosmetic dentistry results always look at the health of the gum tissue adjacent to the veneers.” Precision dentistry incorporates proper diagnosis, cutting edge technology and technical skill by both the dentist and dental technician. There are numerous steps to achieve these results.
Please Look forward to the following video for a complete
