Friendly Teeth

Salman before the magic wand

Salman found this blog whilst he was searching through Forums for a dentist. He emailed me a few days ago and described what he didn’t like about his smile. I encouraged him to call the clinic so I could do a proper examination and then we could discuss his options, so yesterday, into the clinic came in Salman accompanied by his lovely wife and baby daughter.

I examined Salman and got really excited because though Salman thought he had a difficult case for me … it actually wasn’t difficult at all! And if he had the time I could create the smile he wanted in about an hour too!

I really wanted him to be at ease and understand I could really give him what he wanted, so I did a Mock-Up of the makeover for him first … this is when I do actual veneers and fillings that can be removed with a flick of my wrist, so he can see the end result before we start!

Salman's side profile before

When I showed him the mirror, Salman gasped and said, “Wow, can I keep this smile?!” I laughed and said, “Of course you can but I’ve got to do the actual work first … you’ll be out of here in an hour.” He looked shocked and disbelieving but said, “OK, let the Magic Wand do it then!!”

And so we started …..

Wahyu, Salman’s wife played with baby Hanna whilst I created the makeover so I could chat with both of them ..

Salman's new smile!!

We talked about how I am constantly thrilled that patients find this blog and have the confidence to do a makeover purely from the posts and reading the comments. I always am humbled by this … before long Salman was ready for the Magic Mirror, so I put away my Wand.

He took a deep, deep breath and looked into the mirror and broke into a wide smile!

It was such a happy moment!

I told Salman he could eat as normal immediately and that if he needed any

Salman's new side profile

adjustments, he had a whole month of chewing (except chewing on stones, metal and wood chunks!) to test it out, as I guarantee the makeover fully for a month. Any repairs will be done at no extra cost … I promise! It very seldom happens but I know patients like to know I guarantee their new smile.

We said goodbye to Salman, Wahyu and little Hanna, but not before taking one last family photograph of the lovely couple.

I love my job … I get to meet so many wonderful people!

Salman, Wahyu and baby Hanna

Arif before

Arif is actually my son Shanaz’s best friend. He usually can be found hanging out in my house on weekends, playing Dota on one of the PCs, or football on PS3 or twanging a ‘guitar’ on Rock Band.

I have been wanting to do something for Arif for a long time, but as most of Shanaz’s friends they are shy and are reluctant to ‘trouble’ me.

The other day, Shanaz told me that Arif had visited the clinic blog and wondered whether he could have a makeover done too! I told him I’d be happy to do one for him but he’d have to get his parent’s OK first.

He is almost 20, I know, and well over the age of consent (18) but … I’d rather his parents know I was going to change their son’s smile.

The following week, the shy and extremely tall Arif came in for his makeover with Shanaz.

Arif after

We talked and I told him what I could do and what I couldn’t. I did a mock so he could actually get an idea of what it would finally look like … and then we started!

Arif loved it! and so did my biggest critique … Shanaz.

What do you think?

I haven’t done his lower teeth yet … That’s stage two!

It’s amazing! My mother turned 80 this week.

My mother turns 80

We had a huge party where all the family members from far and wide came to wish my mother for her 80th birthday. My brother, Alwi, hosted the party in his house, wisely getting everything catered for 100 people who came streaming in to wish my mother on her big day.

I got Min from Mama Min to create a beautiful cake made to resemble a pot of hydrangers and little cupcakes symbolizing my mother’s 8 grandchildren, 7 boys and the sole girl, Giselle.

Mum's birthday cake

Mum was surrounded by her siblings, her cousins, their kids and their kid’s kids. so Alwi’s house was over run with people, all laughing and tucking into the glorious buffet.

Happy birthday Mum!

The gap before I waved my wand

Sarah is the daughter of my best friend from University, Rema Ragavan. Sarah is a sweet 17 and waiting for her SPM results.

She came in with Rema, and though Rema was the one with the big ‘problem’ tooth, Sarah jumped into the dental chair to do something for the gap in the front of her smile first … I think she inherited it from Rema’s Mum, the gap I mean!

Rema reassured her ‘that Aunty Fay can do wonders’ … which made me smile … Rema and I go back a long, long way and it is always a treat to catch up with my good friend.

We laughed and joked about our University days and how Life turned out.

Rema is now a teacher and co-author of the Science text books my kids use in Secondary school … who would have predicted that! I mean we were up to so much ‘no good’ when we were in University, it’s amazing we became respectable citizens!

It was so much fun waving my magic wand for Sarah. Watching her smile light up her eyes when she looked in the mirror for the first time was a magic moment indeed.

See Ma ... no gap!!

Sarah, you have a lovely mother … and Rema, Sarah is as gorgeous as you are!

I love you both.

Julaiza before we started

Julaiza for the blog whilst surfing the net. A teacher, she hails from Kuala Selangor where she teaches commerce. As usual I spend a few minutes talking to my new patients, to get to know them, find out what they were concerned with about their smile and discuss their options.

Getting to know Julaiza was such fun! We became instant friends.

I told Julaiza that her makeover was a little complicated and challenging as she had what we call a cross-bite. I could do it but she would have to come back in for the second stage as the whole makeover had to be done in two visits.

You see, I was mindful that she had a busy schedule as she was a teacher (I do so like teachers … I think they are unsung heroes and heroines of our Nation), and mindful that she was coming from Kuala Selangor!

Julaiza was game for the makeover, which so touched me, as I knew she just had put her faith in me purely by what she read in this blog and the photos she saw of other makeovers I had done previously.

I am determined to do my very best and deliver to Julaiza the smile she always dreamt she wanted.

We chatted and laughed as we did the makeover … I spent an extraordinary time creating her temporaries as I wanted her to have an idea of the finished result. The time flew by as we had such fun!

At last I had cemented the temporary bridge and Julaiza was ready for the magic mirror. I told her as I passed her the mirror that it was a temporary bridge … it’s not the final one that would be so much, much nicer .

She took the mirror and breathed in a deep breath before looking at her reflection.

Julaiza now, before the final stage in two weeks

She gasped with delight and broke into tears as we hugged… Julaiza thanked me whilst I kept saying that it was only a temporary bridge and the final one was going to be so much nicer.

I have no words to explain or describe these moments when I hand the mirror to my patients.

It is an emotional moment that I am so, so lucky I can give to people … the moment when they see their dream smile at last.

Thank you God for giving me this vocation. I am so blessed.

I can hardly wait for the permanent bridge to arrive. Keep tuned and I’ll post the photos when we finish… that’s a promise.