SECOND PEW FROM THE FRONT

It wasn’t my sermons that made her smile

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick. At an especially rough time, a kindly steward patted Jones on the shoulder and said, “I know, sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no one ever died of sea-sickness.”

Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward’s concerned face and replied, “Man, don’t say that! It’s only the wonderful hope of dying that’s keeping me alive!”

Hope — it is what keeps us alive. Hope that in life as in death God is with us; hope that we can make a difference with our lives; hope that God’s love is more powerful than the worst case of sea-sickness, than the worst illness, than the pain and suffering we face in life, than even death.

A longtime member of the church I serve died after a long and lingering illness. She had suffered more than seemed fair or reasonable. She lost all ability to talk and could communicate only by nodding her head. But even as she faced death — and this is why I’m writing you about her — she radiated hope whenever I saw her. Her warm smile still lit up a room. As she radiated life even in the face of death, she renewed my faith by her hope.

I began thinking back over the time I had known her. When she was able to come to church on Sunday mornings, she would always sit in the second pew from the front, in full view of the pulpit. What I remembered was this: that although even then she was suffering from macular degeneration and had little sight, she always beamed as she looked up at me. At first I thought that maybe she really liked my preaching! But as time went on, I realized that she beamed the same way during the weakest message as she did the best ones I could muster. No, it didn’t have anything to do with my sermons.

Then one day, as she lay in her hospital bed, she explained it. I told her that I was always inspired by her smile and the look of such joy on her face. “Oh,” she responded, “that’s because when I look up at whoever is preaching on a Sunday morning, I can see the Lord, right behind them.” Finally I began to understand the hope and the joy that never left her, all the way to her last day.

I want to be a little more like that, in these days when it’s easy to grumble about everything from politics to the economy to our own aches and pains (what an older friend of mine calls the “organ recital” — you know, what’s wrong with this organ or that). I want to be one of those people who really does “give thanks in everything,” one of those who always manages to find some good news within the bad, one of those who has a gift for encouraging others. I’d love to think that I had the gift of giving hope.

In fact, if you’re having a tough day today, I wish I could borrow my friend’s smile and shine it on you. I know. After all, it used to do me a world of good.

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Making the Most of Your Smile

Everybody wants healthy teeth, but we often think of “health” and “beauty” as two different categories. Many people might be surprised to learn that the latest research in dentistry indicates health and beauty are more closely linked than they seem at first glance. Dr. Patty Simon of Lakewood Orthodontics explains it this way: “When things are placed in their proper position for optimal health and function, the side effect is a prettier smile.”

Most patients understand how a filling stops decay and the spread of bacteria, but cosmetic procedures that improve the tooth shape or bite alignment can also improve health.

“For so long, cosmetic dentistry has simply been about aesthetics, or enhancing beauty,” says Dr. Ashly Cothern, DDS. “But we now know there’s a direct link between our oral cavity and the rest of our system. Bacteria that we harbor in our mouth can be easily transmitted to the rest of our body. Often when we are enhancing a smile – meaning getting rid of decay or discoloration, or crooked teeth – it’s not simply a cosmetic issue.”

Cosmetic dental procedures range from noninvasive, such as teeth whitening, to structural changes that can involve reshaping the tooth or even the gums and jaw. Don’t hesitate to bring up your concerns and questions with your dentist, who will tailor treatment to your specific needs.

Dr. Kelli Slate of Lakewood says she explores the most con- servative approach with patients first. “I always try to conserve tooth structure and do the less invasive procedure, if it can be done at all,” she says. “I recommend simple things like whitening and contouring of the teeth.” Contouring, Dr. Slate explains, means smoothing the teeth, the smile line and the edges of the teeth to make them look better. “Just removing a little bit of tooth structure can make a huge difference for some people’s smile, and it’s very easy,” she says.

If a patient’s teeth cannot be successfully whitened, the dentist might recommend a veneer, which is an ultra-thin application of porcelain or composite bonding. In some cases, veneers can be applied directly to teeth, but depending on the individual case, it may be necessary to remove part of the tooth’s enamel to achieve the best results.

Many cosmetic procedures can be done in your dentist’s office, but some work may require a specialist.

Dr. Greg Greenberg, an orthodontist who practices in Lake Highlands and Frisco, says, “A patient might show up at their dentist and want cosmetic veneers on their front teeth — they’re discolored, or they’re crooked, or they’re chipped — they want to get that Hollywood smile today. But the dentist may feel they could do a lot better job if the teeth were straighter. With a multidisciplinary approach, we can achieve the most ideal result for patients, rather than doing just a little bit of one thing, and getting a mediocre result.”

Adults who remember the orthodontics of their youth may hesitate at the idea of another round of teeth straightening. “The big drawback in the old days for adults seeking that kind of treatment was the appearance of the metal braces,” Dr. Greenberg says. Fortunately, new products have brought about changes in technology that have removed the main drawback of braces. In other words, the metal is gone.

Because of this innovation, many of Dr. Greenberg’s new patients today are adults. “Today we can do Invisalign, which is the clear aligners that are removable. Invisalign can facilitate preparing the teeth and the mouth for cosmetic work. It does a very, very nice job of that. Invisalign has been a re- ally big door opener for people getting more optimal treatment which looks better, and lasts longer.”

Even when a patient needs more correction than can be achieved by Invisalign, there is no need to fear a return to the old-fashioned metal mouth. “For those cases, we have clear or ceramic brackets,” Dr. Greenberg says.

Of course, adults aren’t the only patients benefiting from improvements to teethstraightening technology. Appearances matter to teens at least as much as they do to adults, but today’s teens can get all the advantages of braces without suffering from the stigma of feeling conspicuous while wearing them. Furthermore, teens and tweens have the opportunity to correct some problems before they develop.

“Orthodontists are in the best position to alter growth direction,” says Dr. Simon. “Kids may have a mouth breathing habit, or enlarged tonsils. These conditions can create changes in their growth, and that can lead to a bite that’s off.” Dr. Simon says that orthodontists are specially trained to recognize these problems, and the advantage is clear. “We can change the growing skeleton if we get them in early enough,” she says.

Depending on your individual needs, additional consulta- tions your dentist may recommend might a consultation with a periodontist for changes to gums, or a prosthodontist for tooth replacement or structural addition. Whatever your cosmetic issue may be, talk to your dentist to learn about your options and the latest technologies.

Of course, in addition to health benefits and functional benefits, a smile makeover can provide a psychological boost as well. The look of your smile can dramatically boost your confidence level. People who are self-conscious and afraid to smile sometimes don’t realize how their fear affects social interaction. Cosmetic dentistry can help give you a beautiful smile you can be proud of.

“Abeautiful smile can open new doors, possibilities and opportunities especially for people seeking new careers or jobs in today’s job environment,” says Dr. Baha Duraini of Preston Modern Dentistry. “A beautiful smile will give that person an edge over the competition, and, even more so, an infectious positive outlook in these challenging times. I love what I do knowing that I can change a patient’s life for the better.”