Cosmetic Imaging

 
Blending the art of cosmetic dentistry
and communication to keep patients smiling

When one enters the reception area of Cleveland cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Marsh's office, a certain kind of enveloping energy exists, hinting at possibilities of what's to come. One wall serves as a before-and-after testimony to Dr. Marsh's skilled cosmetic dental artistry. Photo after photo displays tentative, 'grin-and-bear-it' half-smiles of crooked, chipped, or stained teeth that have been transformed into beaming smiles of confidence. If the photo wall is not enough, photo albums proudly adorn a reception table, displaying more renewed smiles and letters of thanks. One patient writes, "I'm really excited about my teeth. Now people will wonder why I'm smiling so much."

It is precisely this enthusiasm that Dr. Marsh and his staff strive to offer to each patient experience while providing an intimate, very personal environment. The little touches, like flowers throughout the office, set the stage for the staff's philosophy of positive patient relationships.

"We work very hard to create a setting that meets our patients' needs," says Dr. Marsh. "This is even reflected in our hours. We begin at 7:00 a.m. to accommodate those who need to be at work early, and we take our lunch later to convenience patients who want to be cared for during their lunch hour."

This attitude continues through all facets of patient care. "We always focus on the patient's concerns about their dental care; it's what we call co-diagnosis," explains Dr. Marsh. This educational process begins by offering VCR's in each room where patients can watch informative videos that explain procedures they are considering, and it continues with the office staff's approach and ongoing communication with each patient.

Education and two-way communication is significantly enhanced due to the advanced technology Dr. Marsh offers. An intra-oral camera, connected to a television monitor, allows the staff to easily show a patient where a problem lies or how one might be prevented.

Perhaps most fascinating is Dr. Marsh's use of a highly specialized and unique computer called an "Imager," which allows a patient to see his or her current smile enlarged on the computer screen adjacent to a projected image of what their smile could become. At the touch of a button, like the wave of a magician's wand, a patient can see how his or her stained, uneven, teeth suddenly become white and uniform. The computer then prints out a photo of both images so the patient can continue to ponder the possibilities.

"The investment in this kind of technology, to stay on the leading edge, has been well worth it," says Dr. Marsh. "When I see a patient's eyes light up and he or she says 'Wow, it's unbelievable! This would make me want to smile,' it affirms how exciting it is to demonstrate this potential. It's especially rewarding when a patient tells me that the actual result looks even better than what they envisioned from the computer."

Dr. Marsh strives to offer this communicative posture when explaining the various advanced cosmetic dental techniques he uses, including bleaching, bonding, veneers, tooth-colored composites or fillings, and ceramic inlays. With bleaching, Dr. Marsh is able to whiten teeth to a patient's desired level of brightness, and with bonding and veneers, he can fill in gaps, lengthen and shape teeth and correct chips and mottling. Tooth-colored fillings and ceramic inlays allow for a more natural appearance.

Regardless of which technology or technique is used, Dr. Marsh always attempts to help each patient make an informed decision in his or her care. In fact, several years ago when Dr. Marsh whitened his own upper teeth, he noticed such a visible difference to his lower teeth's natural slightly stained state, that he left his lower teeth untouched so he could personally demonstrate this treatment's possibilities and effectiveness.

With this kind of thrust toward patient education, it is not surprising that Dr. Marsh frequently appears as a dental adviser on a morning television show and that he serves as a team dentist for the Cleveland Crunch Soccer team and company dentist for the Cleveland Opera. A graduate of Miami of Ohio and the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Marsh has been practicing dentistry for 20 years, including several years at the Bergstrom Air Force Base Hospital in Austin, Texas before he began his private practice.

"When someone says to me, 'I never wanted to have my picture taken, but now that you've given me a new smile, I can't wait to have my picture taken,' it makes everything I do worthwhile," adds Dr. Marsh.

Yet, with all the technological advancements he has experienced in cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Marsh still views himself as a family dentist. As one leaves his office, another wall of photos - of smiling children sporting toothbrushes and good check-ups - confirms just that.

Contact Cleveland cosmetic dentist Steven P. Marsh, D.D.S. to arrange a cosmetic imaging consultation.

Dr. Marsh serves patients in the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area for all cosmetic dental procedures, including dental bonding, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, dental implants, ceramic fillings, crowns & bridges, and extreme dental makeovers.