Before, left, and after photos of a patient who straightened her teeth with Six Month Smiles.The height of summer is the perfect time to get the smile you've always wanted, according to Dr. Mandy Shearer, dentist and owner of Soddy Daisy Smiles family and cosmetic dentistry office.
"Everybody worries about getting into shape for swimsuit season, but many of my patients tell me they want their smile to be in shape as well," Shearer said. "Whether it's whitening or straightening your teeth, summer is a great time to get it done. "Don't let a toothache ruin your summer vacation," she added for those who may put off going to the dentist even during the lazy days of summer. School-age patients can squeeze in cleanings and checkups now without missing classes.
Even patients with all the time in the world may shrink from Shearer's doors for fear of dental drills and other things that go whir at her office. Soddy Daisy Smiles specializes in sedation dentistry, which Shearer said relaxes the patient into sleep "like twilight" for the procedure.
"Most patients don't even remember the visit," she said. "People often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes when in fact it might have taken hours to perform."
This way, Shearer said, some complicated procedures can be performed in fewer, longer appointments. And the ease of sedation makes those patients more likely to keep regular dentist appointments, keeping "drastic" treatment at bay. "If you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing long or complicated dental procedures, sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of," Shearer said.
Dr. Mandy Shearer with her two dogs: a greyhound named Gracie and a Morkie named Teddy.Another painless procedure she offers for upgrading patients' smiles is Six Month Smiles, a new tooth-straightening system. "The word braces no longer has to strike fear among adults and older teens who want to straighten their teeth," Shearer said. This brand-name system uses clear and ivory brackets along with hair-thin wires to line up crooked, crowded or spaced teeth without the metal-mouth look. And it's all done in an average of six months, instead of two to four years.
"What people will notice is your straight, beautiful smile after treatment," she said, adding that Six Month Smiles is usually more affordable than the alternative, partly because it doesn't require as many visits to the dentist during the treatment period. And straighter teeth are easier to keep clean, she pointed out.
"Some people will ask, 'What's the catch?'" Shearer said. "There really is no catch."
She said most people older than 15 are good candidates for Six Month Smiles, and she'll meet with patients free of charge to explore the option. Shearer said she was drawn to dentistry because of the artist's eye and compassionate soul it requires. She said she gets up in the morning to help people achieve the basic joy of a smile they can be proud of. Treating teeth is really treating people, she said.
An advocate for education, she continues to serve as an assistant professor of restorative dentistry and a clinical instructor at Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry in California, where she earned her doctor of dental surgery degree. But when preventative education at home fails and brushing and flossing lag, Shearer's Diagnodent dental laser can detect tooth decay so early that the patient can actually prevent a looming cavity. The laser is more perceptive than the human eye or an X-ray.
"There are solutions for every kind of dental problem," she said.
Soddy Daisy Smiles Business Directory Listing
