![]() That hygienist popped into the insecure recesses of my mind. My wife and I moved to Denver, and I took a job at this magazine where-wait for it-I now work in an office and am out meeting people. ![]() As someone who thinks of himself as more substantive than vain, I never really cared-until I got the South Beach hard sell.įast-forward a few years. When I smile for a photo, they almost look like they’re not there. My teeth are straight they’re just a bit…gray. “Most days I sit in front of my computer, in my home office, and don’t see a single person besides my wife.” That ended the conversation. On my first visit, the hygienist noted that I might want to have my teeth whitened: “If you’re in an office and out meeting people for work,” she said, “you really might want to think about it.” “I’m a freelance writer,” I countered. When my wife and I moved to Miami Beach years ago, we expected an added emphasis on appearance-but I never thought that superficiality would extend to my dentist. Teeth Whitening: Bright Whites One man’s adventures in cosmetic teeth bleaching. Now when I smile I don’t focus on a perceived flaw I’ve got all the confidence that should come with a genuine grin. The trays can be a nuisance to take in and out (having to run to the bathroom, for example, while your friends are being seated at a restaurant), but they’re working. I imagined everyone was doing a double take when I smiled, wondering what was on my teeth-and a few people did ask.Ī few weeks in, though, I barely noticed them. For the first few weeks I was incredibly insecure. ![]() I have to change out the trays every two weeks for about 11 months. Marketed as “clear braces,” Invisalign uses retainers (“trays”) that you wear all the time, except when eating, that very slowly move your teeth into the right place. And I was embarrassed to admit that I cared about something as superficial as having a “perfect” smile, something that would be made painfully obvious with metal brackets on my teeth. I knew I didn’t want braces-been there, done that. I’m not a particularly self-conscious person-most people who know me well will say I’m not lacking in confidence-but the insecurity kept nagging at me. Flossing at night, looking at photos of myself, on a date…my teeth were all I could think about. Most of my friends barely even noticed-but I did. And then a few of my front teeth shifted. ![]() All I could think was, Does he notice my crooked teeth? I’d passed the awkward braces phase in eighth grade, but my jaw shifted as I grew, and halfway through college one of my permanent retainers (a small wire behind my front teeth) came loose. As I burst into laughter, it wasn’t a stray piece of lettuce making an unwelcome appearance that worried me. The date was going well- the food was tasty, the small talk was flowing, the chemistry was there. Invisalign: Grin and Bare It Invisalign is setting my teeth-and my confidence-straight. Prosthodontist: Deals with dentures, implants, and bridges, as well as complex crown work. Periodontist: Specializes in the periodontium, or supporting tooth structure, to treat gum disease and receding gums. Pediatric Dentist: Provides therapeutic and preventive dental care for kids. Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this list, and a dentist’s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of fellow dentists. Once responses were compiled, dentists were checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing. (Dentists could also nominate themselves or others who may not be on the ADA list.) Respondents were asked to consider experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and results. To compile this list, topDentists asked dentists and specialists a personal question: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer him or her to?” The nomination pool consisted of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association. This list is excerpted from the 2012 topDentists list, a database that is created from peer evaluations and includes listings for more than 500 dentists and specialists in Colorado alone. The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. The 25 Best Neighborhoods in Denver in 2023.
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