Adrian Knowles – The ‘Extreme Smile Makeover’

Adrian wasn’t after an extreme makeover when he sat in Auckland dentist Michael Kan’s chair just over two years ago, but he knew something extensive needed to be done. Decades of neglect had left Adrian with only one tooth he could chew on — and it had started to become wobbly.

Smiling had become a thing of the past for Knowles. “Or if I did it would be a little grin. Friends have said to me that they thought I was either sad or very grumpy. It had become a habit for me to avoid opening my mouth.”

Adrian Knowles before treatment by Dr Kan

Adrian Knowles after treatment by Dr Kan

Adrian’s dream was to be able to smile with confidence again. Before meeting Dr Kan, other dentists had tried but had given up.

Before Treatment

After Treatment

From there they came up with a detailed treatment plan: it began with a gum treatment, which removed calculus (tartar) and plaque; then came a set of functional orthodontic plates — similar to dentures — to open up Adrians’ jaw and correct his crossbite.

This was combined with a set of relatively unobtrusive ceramic braces to straighten the teeth and create space for the implants. Knowles then had a bone graft in his top jaw and a sinus lift, which raised his sinus cavity and enabled new bone to grow. 8 implants were inserted into his jaw to hold his new teeth, not before a root canal problem was fixed and titanium posts were implanted to strengthen his weakened original teeth. This operation completed the groundwork.

Dr Kan then set about fixing Adrian’s “bite” — a procedure designed to make his upper and lower teeth meet.  This involved building up his teeth with composite material. Dr Kan used a laser to reshape and remove any unwanted soft tissue.  To start with, the implants were crowned, Knowles’ eight amalgam fillings were swapped with ceramic inlays, eight porcelain veneers and two crowns were bonded on, and a four-tooth bridge was inserted to cover a large gap.  The operation, while extensive – had the desired effect of Knowles’ smile.

“I was absolutely amazed at what they could do,” says Knowles. “Every time I went there it was like an rerun of Space 1999 — they’d pull out a new dental gizmo that would work it’s magic.  I had no idea of the amazing complexity of the challenges with my teeth and how they solved them” says Knowles.

Crowns, Veneers and Teeth Whitening

This 19 year old woman wanted whiter teeth and a more symmetrical smile.

Before Treatment

After Treatment

The Solution: Laser teeth whitening and six porcelain veneers.

Teeth Implants Case Study

“My teeth were a absolute mess but that was the furtherest thing from my mind to get sorted at the time. At the time, because of my financial situation, I made the wrong decision and had my teeth pulled out, which I grew to regret. I made a promise to myself that once my children had grown up I would get my teeth fixed properly and get my smile back. I found it embarrassing to smile openly and was very self conscious of it.”

Dr Kan changed my life. By far, the best thing I have ever done for myself was going to Mr Dental and meeting Dr Kan. He gave me my confidence back and a beautiful white smile that everybody, even new people, comment on and compliment me about.

Before Teeth Implant treatment

After Teeth Implant treatment

My beautiful smile involved the several treatments over the course of a year: Gum treatments, implants, veneers, crowns and whitening. I was so ecstatic with the results.

Before treatment

After treatment

My teeth look white and straight but very natural.People who don’t know me cannot tell I had cosmetic dentistry done because they look so natural.