Good treatment thinks about the years ahead, too.

There is an important distinction here: a treatment being short is not the same as it being planned with only the short term in mind. What I focus on is what today’s change may mean later on.

When I plan a treatment, I am not only thinking about the question “how will your teeth look when the treatment is finished?”. I am also looking for answers to these questions: “Will you still be able to chew comfortably years from now? Will you be able to clean your teeth easily? How will we protect the oral health we have gained together?” Because for me, dentistry is not only about solving today’s problem.

“Smile design”, “Hollywood smile”, big changes in a short time… Expectations about appearance take up an important place in my conversations with my patients. I find this entirely understandable. Of course a person wants to like their smile, to feel good in photographs, to smile comfortably. What I care about is not thinking of these expectations separately from health. While aiming for a good appearance, we must also protect the teeth and tissues that will carry that smile for years.

Oral health is a part of our general health. Being able to eat comfortably, chew well, speak clearly and get through daily life without pain is also at the centre of our work. For this reason we look not only at the colour and alignment of the teeth, but also at the gums, the tissues that support the teeth, the chewing muscles and the jaw joints. We also assess pain complaints that may be related to clenching and to the jaw system. Knowing that not every headache comes from the teeth, we try to understand the needs beyond appearance.

I assess treatment options with this same view. For example, if the teeth are healthy and the real problem is crowding, I think it matters to consider orthodontic options before making crowns. In suitable patients it may be possible to correct the position of the teeth with clear aligners or other orthodontic methods. By contrast, in a tooth that has fractured or lost a significant amount of tissue, a crown may be necessary not only to change the appearance but also to help protect the remaining tooth structure. So the point is not to declare one method always right and another wrong. The point is to determine what that tooth and that patient genuinely need.

There is an important distinction here: a treatment being short is not the same as it being planned with only the short term in mind. What I focus on is what today’s change may mean later on. Procedures in which tooth tissue is reduced are not reversible; the restorations made may also need repairing or replacing over time. When deciding at a young age in particular, it is worth remembering that there are long years ahead to be spent with these teeth. So when we discuss an expectation about appearance, we must also assess together the natural tooth tissue we can preserve and the needs of the future.

With my patients I think it matters to discuss not only what we can do, but why I am recommending it, what alternatives exist, and what we want to protect. Sometimes the right approach is comprehensive treatment. Sometimes a more limited intervention. And sometimes it is choosing to monitor rather than to intervene straight away. What matters to me is that you understand the reasoning behind the decision too, and that we arrive at that decision together.

The part of my profession I love most is not limited to the day treatment is completed. A patient of mine still being able to eat comfortably years later, look after their teeth well and maintain their oral health gives me a particular happiness. Whether we have done a small filling or a comprehensive treatment, the real value for me is that the good we have achieved continues in your daily life.

This continuity is not provided by procedures carried out in the clinic alone. Daily oral care, cleaning between the teeth and, where needed, professional cleaning are important parts of protecting health. Our aim is not only to remove accumulated calculus; it is to notice the factors that lay the ground for problems and to build a care habit that you can sustain. I care about regular check-ups for this reason too. Rather than setting the same check-up interval for everyone, we plan it together according to your oral health and your needs. For some patients an annual check-up may be suitable, while in other situations we need to meet more often.

For me, good dentistry is not only treating; it is protecting, together with you, the health we have gained. I care that you are happy with your smile today, and also that years from now there is a healthy, comfortable mouth behind that smile.