Many of us have been fortunate enough in life to get our driver’s license at age 16. What a special day—freedom, exploration and adventure. But what about responsibility? Oh yes, that dreaded word from our teenage years.
Well, someone had to take care of the car! The car that we drove required maintenance. Oil had to be changed, tires rotated, upholstery and carpets to clean and vacuum—as new drivers, we had to learn how to care for our car—that is, if we wanted it to last.
Growing up, I had a best friend named John. When he was 17, Johnand his brother, Jim, a year older, were given the family Datsun B210 to share. Neither of them took careof the car, neither even bothered to change the oil. After 2 years of abuse with no maintenance, the engine simply froze—quit working—and the boys lost their freedom, exploration and adventure wheels for good.
After 25 years as a practicing dentist, I can tell the same tale of dental neglect over and over and over when it comes to people’s dental investments.
Teeth are like cars—they have to be maintained. I can design and create the most beautiful smile makeover for a patient with dental porcelain veneers or all ceramic crowns and it could last 5 years, 10 years, 20 years and sometimes more depending on the upkeep; just like a car.
When a patient asks me how long will their new no prep veneer smile or new porcelain crown will last, I simply ask them “What are you willing to do to make it last?” I pour my heart and soul into every smile makeover and every crown that I create for a patient. If it fails because of mistakes or missteps that I have made or my lab has made—I replace it, apologies given and no questions asked.
But, in return, I ask my patients to do their part. At Artistic Dentistry of Atlanta, we offer the most advanced gum care, teeth cleaning, program available to help our patients maintain their dental investments in tooth colored fillings, no metal crowns, teeth veneers and more. And, we educate and equip our patients with the most advanced knowledge and techniques in dental home care available today.
We equip our patients with home care products like, the best extra strength fluoride toothpaste, MI paste, chlorahexadine antibacterial mouth rinse, the Rotadent homecare electric brush and more.
These products and the instructions for home care that we provide combined with our in office dental checkup care, all help you maintain your dental investments in smile makeovers and restorative dental procedures.
At Artistic Dentistry of Atlanta, I offer a promise. I promise to do all I can do to create lasting, quality dental care for my patients. In return I ask that my patients maintain their prescribed dental recare appointments and homecare regiments so that together we can help you keep your porcelain crowns and porcelain laminate veneers for years to come.
Peter V. Vanstrom, DDS, PC
