Lip Service
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: LIP SERVICE SCRIPT #493 SHOOT: 12/10/02 AIRDATE: Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 DHC Master #17 Timecode: 16:35
Monday, January 13, 2003
Some dentists are giving new meaning to the phrase "lip service." New dental techniques can improve the look of both lips and teeth. Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry explains how in today's segment of Dental Health Check.
Dental Patient Sue Strickland, after cosmetic dentistry, noticed a difference in her lips as well as in her teeth. "The teeth are whiter and they are fuller. They take up more of my mouth. And that I really like."
Here's the deal. Your teeth support your lips. Without enough support, the lips can droop or wrinkle. So by changing the shape of your teeth, you can change the shape of your lips. Fuller, upper teeth mean
a fuller upper lip.
Sue's dentist is Dr. Susan Hollar, who says her female patients especially notice the cosmetic improvement.
"We can make it a little fuller by very artistically creating fuller contours in that area that give the upper lip nice support."
To give the lips more support, Dr. Hollar makes a porcelain crown thicker in the middle part of the tooth. This technique can also be used for veneers or composite bonding.
Sue Strickland describes her results: "You look years younger. That was a nice one." Sue is a university professor who wants the wisdom of growing older, but not the wrinkles.
So read my lips. They play a key role in cosmetic dental changes. Teeth can reshape not just your smile but also your lips. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
