Friendly Teeth

A few weeks ago I met Zurairah for the first time. She was indeed very shy and very serious. I asked her my usual question, “How did you get to know about the clinic?” and she said she had googled (don’t you just LOVE the internet!) for a dentist in Kuala Lumpur and our blog came up in the search. She looked through the posts and read the comments … then took the needed action to make an appointment!

Zurairah had some simple fillings done first as she was unsure whether she was ready to take the plunge and actually do her makeover …. she wasn’t just shy, she was scared of dentists too!

Zurairah's lovely new smile

We talked and I soon figured out her shyness and seriousness was because she had a not-too-nice looking denture replacing one of her front teeth.

She finally summoned up her courage to ask me what I could do for her. That’s when I told Zurairah that the only way was to make a bridge to replace the missing tooth once and for all. I told her that since she was a student reading Law, she just HAD to … she needed the confidence boost so she can be the sharp and confident lawyer she was destined to be.

I was ecstatic when she agreed! So last week, Zurairah let me give her the smile she always wanted. I had promised her that she would never regret her decision!

Today was the day Zurairah had her bridge fitted in. She came in smiling wide …. gone was the shy smile as I had fitted a beautiful temporary bridge for her to get used to when she came in last week. Zurairah was actually smiling wide now … and even before the permanent bridge was fitted!

In a very short time I had the permanent bridge fitted beautifully! Zurairah smiled even wider!! She even agreed to have her ‘After’ photo taken too …even though I didn’t take any ‘Before’ photos as she was so shy last week. I told her I wanted to post her story in the blog so it may inspire others.

Thank you Zurairah, I know it took a lot from you to trust me to give you your dream smile. I am humbled by that trust and I hope you will keep your promise to me … your promise to smile and not stop yourself from being that great lawyer you want to be!

Remember …no more hiding behind legal documents, OK!

Siti Najihah before

During the staff meeting today the phone rang, it was Siti Najihah’s mum who asked us when her makeover pictures would be uploaded on the net.

My apologies … I had forgotten to bring back the list of my schedule that Saturday hence though I had the pictures … (on that day alone I did three makeovers!) I couldn’t remember who is who anymore … atleast I can’t match names with the photos.

Ahm … actually I have plenty of makeover pictures but I always wonder if people get fed up of seeing the pictures of teeth, teeth, teeth! My son says that if I ever lose my laptop (heaven forbid) the person who finds it will just know that I am a dentist … I have so many, many photos of smiles.

So what does Siti Najihah’s smile look like now?

Siti Najihah's beautiful smile now

After the magic wand had done it’s job … Siti Najihah now looks like this!

Doesn’t she look sweet!

Again, so sorry that this has come up late!

If you have been waiting for your photo to be uploaded too, please call Idayu at 03-26911334 to tell her to remind me!

Emma's discoloured tooth

Emma had booked in an appointment today to see if I could do something about a badly discoloured front tooth. Now I must say, almost always (a good 99%) of patients who come in for a consultation will do their makeover on the spot …. really! That’s why Idayu and Amy will give you a hour and a half appointment!

So in came Emma with her sister. Emma and her sister are from Tawau, Sabah. She said she had googled and gone to the forums asking about/for dentists in KL and soon found this clinic being mentioned in forums. (Thank you everyone/anyone who had posted your comments!!)

She said she felt confident after reading the comments and that it would be a good place to come and get treatment! I always ask my patients to comment on our work … I believe the information age is when patients can get to comment about your work and the would-be patients get to hear real bona fide comments too! Wow!!

The after photo!

Emma warned me that she had a lock-jaw problem so that started me teaching her sister how to “unlock” her jaw if ever it happens again! Yes, we had fun talking about everything …from physiotherapy to Tawau.

And soon it was done … and it was Emma’s turn to look in the mirror. She turned it around and … loved it!

She’s a lovely girl Emma is. Now she will smile with confidence as she treats her patients …. did I mention Emma is in her 3rd year of Physiotherapy?

Way to go Emma … and thank you for reading about us in the forums and trusting the comments there!

I love my job!

Amnah aka "arm strong" before

Last week I received an email  from someone who goes by the name of “arm strong”. The email asked about correcting a stain on a tooth which she said her previous dentist said could not be helped! She very conveniently attached to the email, some photos with the stained tooth prominently circled in black … so I wouldn’t miss it!!

I wrote back saying it was easy-peasy and “arm strong” made the appointment.

I saw her today, along with her friend who came along to boost her courage. Amnah (I finally got her name!) sat back when I saw her teeth, I actually recognised her from the stain!!

We had such a good laugh and joked whilst I did her makeover … which was easy -peasy just as I predicted. It turned out that she is a student at a local college and comes from Kelantan

Amnah's new smile ... see Ma, no stains!

Soon she had the magic mirror in her hands and was about to take her first look at her new smile … she burst into a giggle .. the stain was gone!

Now Amnah, smile wide and with confidence OK. You look goooood!

Guess which one is Amnah.

These have been busy days indeed. There was the usual rush for some Muslims that want to avoid treatment during the fasting month though many when asked agree that it was OK to have dental treatment even whilst they fasted!

We have been working flat out and I have many, many makeovers that I haven’t posted as yet. So please be patient and I will (I promise!!) post your makeovers in the next few days. Meanwhile, for those who I have yet to post the photos for you to share with your friends, enjoy looking at the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos I gave you as you left the clinic in your Makeover Album!!

Fariz before the magic wand did it's stuff

Today I did the second part of the makeover for a young man who had been referred to me by his cousin who is a dentist! Fariz wasn’t happy with his smile as there was a gap and his teeth were tilted outwards.

Fariz told me that he was considering braces until his cousin told him to check out this blog. Wow! I don’t think I know his cousin personally, but obviously she did like my work.

Anyway, about two weeks ago Fariz came in and I worked on his upper teeth first …. I closed the gap and corrected the tilt on his left side after giving everything a good polish.

Today, Fariz came in for the final part … his only complaint was the left side was just a little high and needed some adjustment …. he said he was worried that he had to be careful when eating on that side.

I reassured him that it was easy-peasy and the whole idea of the makeover was to take away a concern (that his teeth were not straight) and it didn’t make sense to  replace it with another concern (that he had to be careful when he ate) ….

“No, no” … I said, ” The makeover should leave you being able to eat naturally, it’s like useable art! You’ve got to be able to eat like normal!!” It took just a few minutes to adjust the teeth so he could bite.

Fariz' Aidil Fitri Smile

So then we continued with the lower teeth and very soon, Fariz was ready for the mirror again.

Tadaah!!! He loved it!!

What do you think? Don’t yo agree Fariz’ Raya Smile looks good?

Yep … I love my job!!

Selamat Berpuasa to all my Muslim friends and patients!!