June 2008

Dr. BadalamentI described Brian Janssen's teeth as "crooked, worn down and discolored" before the procedure; today he has a winning smile.

Many people can easily list 100 things they would rather do than visit the dentist. But for Brian Janssen, it was his No. 1 fear, thanks to the childhood trauma of having baby teeth pulled by a dentist he and his brothers called "the old crabby guy."

So it came as a surprise to his friends when Janssen decided to get a smile lift, a dental procedure that involves grinding existing teeth down slightly and bonding custom-made porcelain laminates over them, resulting in a natural, much improved, smile.

Such procedures are increasing in popularity according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, which estimates it is a $2.75 billion industry, with 2.69 million cosmetic dental patients in the United States.

The benefits of cosmetic dentistry to your appearance are obvious, but an improved smile also will make you appear more intelligent, interesting, wealthy and successful to others, according to recent research conducted by Beall Research & Training of Chicago on behalf of the AACD. In the study, people looked at photos of others and rated such characteristics, with the only difference in the photos being their teeth.

While many people seek cosmetic dentistry because they think a "winning" smile will benefit their personal and professional life, in Janssen’s line of work, it is essential — he’s a model.

At 38, Janssen only began modeling about four years ago. Until now he has been doing runway and fashion work, where smiling isn’t a prerequisite: think of the chiseled guys gliding down the runway sporting the latest linen trousers or the brooding faces in fragrance ads. But as he ages, he knows most of the work available will be in the genre known as lifestyle or in catalog work, and those require a set of pearly whites. "I think a new smile will open a lot more doors," says Janssen. While no agencies told him he needed dental work, several friends and a photographer with whom he worked suggested it.

Janssen says he was never happy with his teeth but over the years learned how to hide them when he smiled. Sitting at a café talking over a cup of coffee the day before the lift procedure, he said he hoped the change would make him feel a bit more at ease.

Brian Janssen worked with Dr. Peter Badalamenti to perfect his smile.

Janssen sought the help of Dr. Peter Badalamenti, a dentist who specializes in advanced aesthetics and neuromuscular dentistry. Badalamenti described Janssen’s situation as typical of many of his patients. "They’ve come to a point where they want to make a change, to take care of themselves or they may be in physical pain with conditions like TMJ," he says. Often that point coincides with a landmark birthday or a milestone, such as a college graduation. "Brian’s teeth were crooked, worn down and discolored. You see that a lot," Badalamenti says.

He described the smile lift as a great alternative to braces, especially for adults, whose teeth would take anywhere from 36 to 60 months to straighten out. The smile lift involved two office visits. In the first, eight of Janssen’s top teeth were reshaped to allow for the added thickness of the veneer; he also had a root canal procedure. A molded image was taken of the reshaped teeth and sent to a dental laboratory, where the veneer was custom-made to fit his mouth. Janssen was then fitted with temporary resin teeth to protect his tooth enamel while the set of porcelains was being made. "The first visit often also serves to give patients peace of mind so the patient knows I understand their wishes and they are translated well into a visual," says Badalamenti.

While Janssen got used to his temporary, resin teeth for three weeks, he followed a strict regimen of brushing and using a dental pick six times a day. As the big day drew nearer, Janssen’s anxiety was at full throttle. He wondered if his teeth would feel the same, if it would have any effect on his speech and if people would notice the difference. Fast-forward to a month after the veneers were applied, and Janssen says he was more nervous than he should have been. "I was unconscious for the procedure, so honestly I don’t remember anything from it," he explains. Back to work the following day, he says he felt just a "little out of it."

The toughest thing was that his mouth was sore, similar to when he had his wisdom teeth pulled, making it difficult for the chef to taste the food he was preparing. "My mouth was pretty tender for a few weeks. I could only chew soft foods and bought a lot of protein shakes," he says. "But it was totally worth the bit of discomfort I had, plus I received medication to deal with any pain. And now I’m able to eat anything I want. My new teeth are a bit more sensitive to hot and cold right now, but it’s definitely something I can deal with."

For maintenance, Janssen brushes and flosses twice a day, which he says is a breeze after the temporary teeth. According to Badalamenti, with proper maintenance, Janssen’s veneers should last up to 20 years. "It was such a huge issue with me my entire life, especially the middle school years. It was a huge confidence issue. People who have seen me and know I had the procedure have commented they would never be able to tell these are not my natural teeth," says Janssen.

Janssen’s new smile may take some time to get used to, like when he got contacts and kept "pushing up his glasses" for a few weeks. "In the few weeks since I had this procedure, I’ve recommended it to a model friend in New York and Dr. Badalamenti to a friend in Milwaukee," says Janssen. "I should have done this years ago."