When Maria* came to our office, she'd been stuck in a frustrating cycle for years.
She'd seen several dentists for checkups and cleanings, and they all told her the same thing: she needed Invisalign to correct her crowding and bite. But while she focused on whether or not to straighten her teeth, a bigger problem was quietly getting worse. She had large cavities that were too advanced for fillings—they needed crowns. And because of insurance limitations and the fear of making the wrong choice, she kept waiting.
She wanted to be 100% sure before committing to anything. But that uncertainty was taking a toll. Years passed, and the decay deepened.
Creating a Plan She Could Trust
When we met, I told Maria I'd create a comprehensive plan that addressed everything—not just one piece of the puzzle. We took detailed photos, and I built a presentation that mapped out what I hoped to achieve, how long it would take, what would happen at each visit, and what it would cost.
Then I showed her the digital smile simulation.
I'll never forget the look on her face—wide-eyed, hopeful, but skeptical. She loved what she saw, but she wondered: could that really be me?
Even with a clear plan in front of her, it still took Maria about a year to move forward. I encouraged her not to wait—her decay was progressing, and I worried she might need additional root canals or even lose a tooth, which would complicate treatment. But I understood. Big decisions take time, especially when you've been uncertain for so long.
Bringing Her Smile to Life
Thankfully, her treatment didn't deviate much from the original plan. Because her gumline was visible when she smiled, I brought in a periodontist to create a beautiful, balanced frame for her new teeth. After that, we prepared her teeth for crowns and placed temporary restorations that resembled her future smile.
Three weeks later, we placed her final porcelain crowns.
Maria told me afterward that the confidence she feels now can't be described in words. She no longer questions how she looks. She gets compliments from friends and family all the time. And after so many years of hesitation, she can finally focus her attention on other, more important parts of her life.
It was such a pleasure to complete her smile makeover—especially knowing how long it took her to get here.
Her Treatment, Visit by Visit
- Planning. We scanned her teeth to create a digital model and took photos to plan her case.
- Her treatment plan. I presented my proposed treatment plan. She understood the lengths of her future appointments and what would take place, and we finalized her payment plan.
Gum procedure with the periodontist: he completed a crown lengthening procedure, using a laser to lift the height of her gums and a small amount of bone on her two front teeth. I saw her 4 weeks after the gum surgery.
- Preparing her teeth. We removed the decay and restored her teeth with temporaries that looked like her final crowns.
- Her final crowns. We inserted her crowns and scanned her teeth for a night guard.
- Night guard and photos. We gave her the night guard and took photos.
How Her Insurance Helped
Because she had cavities, her insurance covered some of her crowns. It contributed $2,000, because that was her plan's annual maximum.
We also completed her treatment around November, so that her insurance benefits would renew in time for her quarterly cleanings in January.
Before treatment, we check your benefits and give you a clear estimate of how much your insurance will contribute. See the PPO plans we accept.
*All photos and stories are of actual patients. Patient names changed for confidentiality.
