Dental Face Lift - Extreme Cosmetic Dentistry

Santa Monica cosmetic dentist perfects and trademarks the "Dental Face Lift" process as a unique patient-centered restorative and bite reconstructive treatment that only requires dental restorations. No facial surgery, no stitches, no plastic surgery, no Botox, no Restylane, and no collagen injections are required. There is minimal to no grinding on the natural teeth.

Dr. Sam Muslin has developed a system of assessing and treating facial dimension issues that go beyond traditional cosmetic dentistry. Conventional cosmetic dentistry focuses on tooth whitening or bleaching with Zoom, BriteSmile or Crest Whitening Strips. Almost every other cosmetic dentist focuses on the smile by placing some Porcelain Veneers on the upper teeth. Facial elements such as thin lips, a short lower face, facial wrinkles and lower jaw or TMJ issues seemingly escape the awareness of many general practice dentists. These issues are vital in the treatment of Face Lift Dentistry. The patient's unique soft tissue facial characteristics are enhanced naturally by supporting the soft tissue with the hard tissue, i.e. the teeth.

The most noteworthy aspect of Face Lift Dentistry is the geometrical, functional and 3-D analysis of the entire face. Not only is the smile treated but the entire face. People smile about 2% of the time, while the other 98% the lips have flattened, the faces have collapsed or sunk in, there are facial lines or wrinkles and we look older than we should, especially if we are over 50. Many of our facial weaknesses become more obvious as we grow older. We can be improving these areas by using the teeth for additional facial support.

Patients are stunned when a live motion camera system is used which allows them to watch themselves from all angles talking in front of a television monitor. Most patients were ignorant of how they looked while speaking. During the 98% of the time when they are not smiling, patients were stunned to see how their teeth look. Some patients had porcelain veneers placed by other dentist and were dissatisfied with the results. Patients with crooked lower teeth are stunned to see how noticeable those teeth are during a natural conversation.

The aim is to treat the face, the bite and the health of the whole body by maximizing the potential of the teeth to support faces, lips and cheeks. The patient's face can be lengthened and eliminate years off of the facial appearance. Facial wrinkles are smoothed out and lips thickened. By reconstructing the patient's bite with Face Lift Dentistry, the patient goes way beyond just a smile, which conventional cosmetic dentistry attempts to treat.

Some patients have had a deep over-bite all their lives that contribute to a short lower face while other patients develop a short lower face from years of grinding and the wearing down of their teeth. Because the progression is gradual, many patients are not aware that they grind and that they are wearing down. The face looks its age because of the loss of tooth support and the flattening of their bite. Some 30-year-old patients have a 50-year-old looking face because of a deep over-bite, while some 50-year-old patients look far younger because they had Face Lift Dentistry!

Aging and tooth wear is a natural progression and the loss of vertical dimension of a patient's face is the consequence. The face collapses along with the wear on the teeth. The life expectancy of our generation has increased to almost 100 years of age. Teeth can date faces.

The patient is healthier when all of the old mismatched crowns and fillings are replaced. Conflicting metals and crumbling tooth structure are replaced with biologically well-matched porcelain materials. Decay is removed for maximum health and the bite is rebuilt. Eventually, the bite is typically flattened with wear. Cusps are worn down and facial height is lost. Rebuilding the bite restores the cusp tips for better chewing and facial height to restore a more youthful face. The dentist's skill and knowledge are the most critical element in Face Lift Dentistry. Superior training combined with artistic ability is a necessity. All of the three dimensional components, technical elements and functional components such as speech and chewing must be dynamically balanced and biologically harmonized.

Dr. Sam Muslin is passionate about dentistry. His holistic approach has given many of his patients the extra benefit of better health and a transformed life. He has been practicing Cosmetic Dentistry in Santa Monica for the past 29 years. He is one of a few Masters of the Academy of General Dentistry. Face Lift Dentistry and the Dental Face Lift are registered trademarks of Dr. Sam Muslin.