Case study evaluates using MI Paste protocol instead of veneers
by Angela Nordstrom, RDH
Our office's very first experience with MI Paste was, to say the least, very rewarding. We had recently viewed theFeb. 23 appointment
Case Study
The 30-year-old patient presented for a checkup and cleaning. She indicated that she was aware – after years of discussing options with previous dental professionals – that the best treatment option available to improve the esthetics of her smile was veneers. She was now seriously considering spending the money on veneers to make what she called her "ugly but strong" teeth beautiful.
We saw an opportunity to try MI Paste, as she had nothing to lose, but a everything to gain if it did indeed work. Home-care compliance was excellent. No restorative treatment was done on any of the anterior teeth. TheMarch 22 appointment
Protocol
The course of action was the following:
February 23, 2010
April 22 appointment
March 22, 2010
- Patient returned for further treatment.
- Patient was unsure if there had been actual improvement.
- "Before" pictures were compared to one-month photos and improvement was noted.
- The Feb. 23 procedure was repeated.
- Patient reported that her only concern is that teeth felt "rough" after etching.
April 22, 2010
Patient returned for two-month MI Paste appointment.May 18 appointment
May 18, 2010
- Patient returned for follow-up appointment and final photographs.
- Patient was exceedingly happy with results.
- A slight mottling was noted on tooth #11, however patient was not concerned with this, and it was only noticeable very close-up.
- Pictures were printed for patient to take home
- Permission to share photos and case details granted.
Details
In-office etching was performed a total of three times for this patient. She was very compliant with her home care, as well as the use of Crest 3D Whitestrips monthly. Having an in-office camera with a macro lens certainly helped accurately document the changes occurring.
Encouraging results
I found that this case was rewarding not only for the patient for obvious reasons, but as a dental professional as well. Her self-esteem had been affected by her "ugly but strong" teeth most of her life. After treatment, she sent our office a gift and a lovely card on which she wrote "Thank you for making my teeth pretty! I'm so happy to finally have a beautiful smile!" She gave us all of the credit and gratitude but we were certainly just as amazed at how well MI Paste works. The success of this case has encouraged our office to offer MI Paste with great frequency as a valuable option for remineralization of both environmental and innate enamel defects.
Angela Nordstrom, RDH, and her husband Derek Nordstrom, DDS, own and operate a general dentistry practice in Wainwright, Alberta. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta.
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