Why a New Smile Should Start with a Focus on Function

Pittsburgh cosmetic dentists Drs. Brian and Rob Klaich, DMD share a passion for excellence and a penchant for award-winning cosmetic dentistry. Throughout 17 years of practicing together, the brothers’ esthetic dentistry and smile makeovers have been recognized nationally by multiple institutions, laboratories, and publications. This requires having a sharp and talented esthetic eye, but they claim the secret to their success lies in understanding the physiology of the bite. 

As fellows of both the International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics and the Las Vegas Institute, the dentists’ training focuses on function, not just the appearance. “If you intend to alter the shape of the teeth, which is most often the reason people to do esthetic dentistry, then you must understand and respect the function of how they work. If you fail to do so, the beautiful results may not feel right to the patient or be as stable as they should.”

“A great number of patients who are interested in smile makeovers have dental arches with spacing or crowding, or teeth that look excessively worn and chipped,” adds Dr. Rob. “There are underlying reasons in the bite physiology that caused these issues. If you don’t take steps to address them by satisfying the muscles, joints, and airway, you might be inviting failure to the new smile or even compromising the patient’s health.”

“Even when a patient isn’t aware of any bite issues, it’s still just as important to make sure the new shapes of the teeth aren’t going to cause them,” notes Dr. Brian. “This could result in porcelain fracture or bring about new problems for the patient.”

It’s no surprise that patients travel many miles to visit them at Cranberry Dental Studio. Their boutique-style practice is just north of Pittsburgh and features the latest technology in imaging and bite assessment. “We use advanced equipment and techniques that ensure we marry gorgeous esthetics with the proper function for each and every patient,” adds Dr. Rob. “The confidence of knowing their new smile is in the best form for their body’s function is a special peace of mind that we’re truly excited to share with our patients.”