Restorations are a Snap with Snap-On Smile®

Snap-On Smile® (Snap-On Smile Creations, Inc, Brooklyn, NY) is a multi-purpose restorative appliance (Figure 1). It involves no drilling, no altering of existing tooth structures, and no injections. It is noninvasive, which means that it is completely reversible. The appliance fits directly over existing tooth structure and attains its incredible retention from the anatomy of the tooth or teeth. It can be used for multiple modalities; raising vertical dimension in preparation for a full-mouth rehabilitation, as an implant temporary, and as a cosmetic smile enhancement. It can also be used as a cosmetic removable partial denture.

Because Snap-On Smile comes in 23 shades, a patient can either match one arch to the opposing arch or completely change the look of the existing dentition. For raising vertical dimension, we would use Snap-On Smile with no occlusal holes. As an implant temporary, Snap-On Smile can be placed as either a quadrant or a full-arch restoration, depending on how many implants are being placed. Snap-On Smile serves as a valuable provisional because it never impinges on the gingival tissue. As a cosmetic smile enhancement, the appliance is made with occlusal holes in order not to alter the patient’s occlusion.

To fabricate the Snap-On Smile appliance, the laboratory requires only a polyvinyl or polyether impression, bite registration, and shade and shape selection by the dentist. The shade can be chosen from the Ivoclar Bleaching Shade Guide (Ivoclar Vivadent, Amherst, NY) or the VITA Bleachedguide (Vident, Brea, CA). Because it a waxed-up restoration, a shape can be selected from any picture a patient desires.

The Snap-On Smile appliance is easy to maintain. It does not stain, and because of its specialized material, it does not become degraded by saliva. Therefore, the appliance does not distort over long-term use.

Snap-On Smile also provides a specialized cleanser that removes all debris within 15 minutes, and a gel that provides additional bactericidal affects.

CASE REPORT

The patient came for a cosmetic consultation for her discolored maxillary small teeth (Figure 2). She lived in Paris, France, and after consulting with numerous dentists without success, she traveled to the United States to inquire about the latest dental technologies available to solve her problem. The patient had reservations about having her teeth drilled for porcelain veneers or crowns and had her teeth bleached in the past with no improvement, which left her feeling quite hopeless.

She first inquired about a veneer system, but after learning that the veneers would be bonded to her maxillary teeth without any tooth preparation, she was hesitant because the veneers would have to be drilled off to remove them if she was not happy with the esthetics.

The patient was presented with the Snap-On Smile appliance, which gave her a glimpse of what a more permanent restoration would look like while providing her with a removable appliance that would achieve the cosmetic results she was looking for. She was enthusiastic about trying out the custom-made appliance, especially because it would require no anesthesia and no drilling to her natural teeth, and because the cosmetic results achieved would be completely reversible if she was not satisfied with the esthetics of the appliance.

It was explained that the appliance would fit over her existing teeth, so her new teeth would look slightly larger than her own and that there might be a short adjustment period (up to 1 hour) during which her speech might be affected while she grew accustomed to the appliance. Her only reservation about the Snap-On Smile appliance was its size. The patient was assured that given her tooth structure, she could not only accommodate the appliance but also improve her facial esthetics because she would now show part of the incisal edges of her teeth.

Impressions of both the upper and lower arches were taken with a polyether impression material, and a bite registration was taken with a polyvinylsiloxane material. Pictures of the patient’s smile and entire face were also taken to allow the laboratory to better prepare the appliance with respect to her facial shape, smile line, and features. The VITA shade guide was used to select a shade. Because the patient wanted her Snap-On Smile to look as natural as possible, a shade closely matched to her lower teeth was chosen.

The appliance was fabricated and the patient returned to the office to have her Snap-On smile inserted. The fit of the appliance was perfect. There was enough retention from the appliance without applying any force to her teeth. The esthetics of the appliance were immediately visible and only minor adjustments were made on the incisal edges of the two central incisors (Figure 3).

The patient was happy with the esthetics of the appliance, but was apprehensive about how natural it looked; she was not used to having her teeth show while speaking. She was assured that the appliance looked very natural. As the staff came into the operatory, no one was able to tell what procedure was performed on the patient; many thought she had veneers. The patient was relieved and all her apprehensions were put at ease. Her Snap-On Smile looked natural and beautiful, as evidenced by her comment at her follow-up appointment: “When will this appliance be available in France?”

This article was written by Adina Carrel, DMD. A Harvard graduate, Dr. Carrel received the Award of Merit by the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. She maintains a private practice in New York City as a cosmetic dentist.

For more information, contact:
Snap On Smile Creations, Inc.
Phone: 877-7SNAPON
Web: www.SnapOnSmile.com

DISCLAIMER

The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. The statements and opinions contained therein are solely those of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of  Inside Dentistry. The preceding is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval for the aforementioned products or services or their effectiveness, quality, or safety on the part of Inside Dentistry  or AEGIS Communications. The publisher disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas or products referred to in the preceding material.

Figure 1 The Snap-On Smile appliance.		Figure 2 The patient presented with a smile that had discolored and stained teeth and a narrow buccal corridor.
Figure 3 After the cosmetic appliance by Snap-On Smile® was inserted, the patient was extremely pleased with the result. The shade chosen was A2.