All I Want for Christmas...

How a Confident Smile Changed Tommy’s Life

Written by: Dr. Levy Do, DDS

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with your loved ones, express your gratitude, and enjoy the festive spirit. But for Tommy, it was also a time to face his biggest insecurity: his smile. Tommy had been unhappy with his smile for years, ever since he lost his two front teeth in a hockey game. He felt like he looked younger, silly, and unprofessional. He hated how people joked about his mouth when he talked, and how he had to cover his mouth when he laughed. He felt like he had nothing to smile about.

He avoided socializing, taking photos, or smiling altogether. This made him miss out on the joy and happiness of the holidays. It also affected his mood, his relationships, and his overall well-being. He felt lonely, depressed, and hopeless. He knew he needed a change, but he didn’t know where to start. He had heard about dental implants, which are like new roots for your teeth. They are placed into your jawbone and then topped with beautiful crowns that look and feel like your natural teeth. They can restore the function and appearance of your smile, as well as your confidence and self-esteem. But he was scared of the surgery, the cost, and the outcome. He didn’t know if he could trust anyone with his smile. He didn’t know if he could afford it. He didn’t know if it would work.

That’s when he found us through a family friend. Of course, Tommy admitted he did some research and checked out our online presence. He later told us he chose us because of the amazing reviews, friendly staff, and high quality of dentistry. We were able to walk Tommy through his highly emotional but eye-opening consultation, where we explained everything to him in detail. We showed him pictures of our previous patients, who had similar problems as him. We told him how we could help him achieve the smile of his dreams and he was super excited! (Up to this point, Tommy had a removable worn set of denture teeth, called a “flipper”. He had once broken it playing with his puppy and didn’t leave the house for a week)

The investment at first was a challenge for Tommy, but with payment options and Care Credit available for him, we were able to get started. Seeing the gleam in his eyes and picturing his transformation also got us excited!

He decided to give us a chance, and we were so glad he did. We scheduled him for two visits. The first one was to place the implants using 3D planning, and the second one was to attach the crowns to the implants. The whole process took about six months, during which Tommy was finally able to “flip” away his old flipper denture for some fixed-in teeth that he didn’t have to worry about falling out. We made sure that he was comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. We used numbing medicine to make sure he didn’t feel anything and relaxing medicine to help him calm down. We also gave him detailed instructions on how to care for his implants and prevent any problems. We checked on him regularly to see how he was doing. Every time we saw him, we saw that smile grow bigger and bigger! (We had him a new temporary Valplast denture that was MUCH nicer than the metal hooked one he had)

Finally, the day came when Tommy got his new smile. We removed the temporary denture and placed the crowns on the implants. We adjusted them to make sure they fit him perfectly and matched his other teeth. We then showed him the mirror and asked him what he thought…

Tommy was speechless. He couldn’t believe how beautiful and natural his smile looked. He felt like a new person, and he couldn’t wait to show off his smile to everyone, just in time for Christmas! He thanked us sincerely and gave us the biggest hugs. What a wonderful Christmas surprise.

His new smile changed his life. He started to smile more, laugh more, and enjoy life more. He felt more confident, optimistic, and happy. He reconnected with his family and friends, who hadn’t seen him smile in years. He also volunteered as a greeter at his church, and he loved welcoming people with his warm smile. He felt like he had a new purpose and a new direction.

He was grateful for everything that we had done for him, and he wanted us to share his story with others. He wanted to inspire and encourage anyone unhappy with their smile and let them know that there was hope and help. He wanted to tell them about us, Pine Cove Dental, and how we could change their lives too, and asked that we share his story. A story of hope.

If you are unhappy with your smile, don’t let it hold you back from enjoying the holidays. We are a “no judgement zone” and love nothing more than to help you smile more and regain that confidence. Let us help you achieve the smile of your dreams. If all you wanted for Christmas are your two front teeth, we can make it happen. 😁

Remember to be thankful, be happy, and be blessed! 🎄