Have you ever had patients come in for cosmetic consultations, yet no matter what you do or show them, they aren’t ready to proceed with treatment? Then there’s the patient with two missing upper teeth in the anterior region who wants a quick fix, but needs to wait for an implant to integrate or doesn’t have time to wait for a partial denture. Yet, this patient says he needs teeth quickly!
We all have patients who think we have dental magic wands that we can just wave across their mouths for a nice, white smile. What can we do for these patients, and how can we do it cost-effectively and quickly?
The answer comes in a revolutionary new product called the Snap-On Smile™. This is how it works. The dentist takes a polyvinylsiloxane impression of the patient’s teeth - without modification - and sends it to Trident Dental Laboratories, which has been chosen exclusively by the inventor of the Snap-On Smile to produce this patented product. The technologists at Trident Dental Lab make a 10-unit teeth splint that can literally be put into the patient’s mouth and snapped into place.
This interesting design involves a tight adaptation of the material to the teeth, so that the patient can snap the splint in and out of his or her mouth with relative ease. It fits well enough so patients can wear it when they eat, and it is definitely secure enough for their regular speaking and facial movements.
I envision many uses for the Snap-On Smile. Patients considering no-prep Lumineers™ may want an idea of what they are going to look like. Enter the Snap-On Smile. For a reasonable cost, which can be applied toward the final cost of Lumineers, patients can give beautiful teeth a trial run. Allowing them to do a trial run before their final makeover truly helps them decide whether this is for them.
I believe it’s much more effective than diagnostic imaging or a model wax-up, because patients actually can see the teeth in their mouths, wear them, and get opinions from other people before their final makeover. It helps you, the dentist, because it aids in your diagnosis of what the patient needs. You can play with the incisal length to see how much longer to make the anterior teeth, especially if they are worn down.
Patients missing two or three anterior teeth who don’t have the money for fixed bridgework - or who don’t have time to wait for a partial denture to be made - are excellent candidates for the Snap-On Smile. It snaps into place and esthetically fixes the patient’s problem while either a partial denture is being made or implants are integrating into the space.
Now let’s talk about one of the most important issues - cost. The cost is a very reasonable $320. The Snap-On Smile is a 10-teeth, removable, temporary, well-fitting splint at a basic cost of $32 per unit. Considering this is what we typically pay for many laboratory-made temporaries, this is very cost-effective.
Patients who have received Snap-On Smiles love them, yet they realize they are reversible, and that they will need more dentistry later. The Snap-On Smile is quickly becoming an essential part to many esthetic and reconstructive treatment plans.
I love products like the Snap-On Smile. It is innovative, exciting, patients love it, it adds a new line extension to the office, and it positions the patient for further elective esthetic treatment. Use the Snap-On Smile splint on some of your patients, and you will quickly find many uses for this interesting new product!
Dr. Louis Malcmacher is an international lecturer and author known for his comprehensive and entertaining style. An evaluator for Clinical Research Associates, Dr. Malcmacher is a consultant to the Council on Dental Practice of the ADA. For close to two decades, Dr. Malcmacher has inspired his audiences to truly enjoy practicing dentistry by providing the knowledge necessary for excellent clinical and practice-management skills. His group dental practice has maintained a 45 percent overhead since 1988. For details about his speaking schedule, Dr. Malcmacher can be reached at (440) 892-1810 or via e-mail at [email protected].
