Do I need Smile Recontouring?What is Smile Recontouring anyway?
Smile Recontouring 101
One of the elements of Cosmetic Dentistry is Smile Recontouring: a general term for using one, or a combination, of four techniques to bring out the maximum potential of your smile. Dr. Yankie will leverage her experience and training to map out the various elements you’ll need to restore—first and foremost—your oral health, and the daily confidence required to be the best you can be.
Elements of Smile Contouring are:
- Lip Recontouring using BOTOX® (Relief for the “gummy” smile)
- Gum Recontouring using Laser
- Reshaping of teeth (Odontoplasty)
- Veneers and/or Bonding
Smile Recontouring is a safe and effective cosmetic procedure that can transform your smile and boost your confidence. By understanding the meaning of recontouring, the process involved, and the benefits it offers, you can make an informed decision about whether it is the right treatment for you.
Discover the artistry of Smile Recontouring at Dr. Yankie’s Mill Valley Dental Office, where we blend advanced techniques with personalized care for a truly radiant smile. Our commitment to enhancing your natural beauty goes beyond traditional dentistry, and Smile Recontouring is at the forefront of our transformative services.
Smile Recontouring is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure designed to refine the shape and symmetry of your smile. Dr. Yankie, a trusted expert in Mill Valley, skillfully employs this innovative technique to reshape your teeth and gums, creating a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing balance. Whether addressing minor imperfections or enhancing your overall smile, our approach ensures a personalized and natural result.
At our Mill Valley Dental Office, we prioritize your comfort and satisfaction throughout the Smile Recontouring process. Dr. Yankie’s expertise combined with this advanced technique guarantees a tailored experience that unveils the full potential of your smile. Say goodbye to smile imperfections and hello to a confident, beautifully contoured smile with Smile Recontouring at Dr. Yankie’s Mill Valley Dental Office.
Explore the possibilities of Smile Recontouring in Mill Valley. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Yankie today and embark on a journey to a more confident and captivating smile.
BOTOX®
OnabotulinumtoxinA
by Allergan Aesthetics
an AbbVie Company
an AbbVie Company
- 17.5M consumers are interested in receiving treatment with neurotoxins in the next two years.
Ref: 2021 Facial Injectables Market Sizing Study_Report_040422 (v0.1) – 48.5M (p.9) - 48.5M people would ever consider facial injectables.
Ref: 2021 Facial Injectables Market Sizing Study_Report_040422 (v0.1) - 78% of existing neurotoxin users expect to receive treatment again in 2023.
Ref: Facial Injectable Change Assessment 2022 survey of 568 considerers
The needle was so thin, I could barely see it. I remember it was as thick as a strand of my hair.
Even with that, Dr. Yankie’s technique was so gentle. I had such a positive experience.SK
Lip Recontouring using BOTOX®
Gummy Smile repair
A smile is a wonderful thing. Ever looked at your pet and wondered if they are smiling at you? Makes you feel warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it? As simple as a single smile can be, there are a lot of things going on to make that simple action happen.
Around the mouth, you’ll find a group of expression muscles, including the depressor anguli oris, the risorius, the zygomaticus major and minor, the levator labii superioris, and the Orbicularis oris. We think the latter is the fun one! It’s what makes you pucker up! Specifically, the zygomaticus muscles play a key role in the act of smiling, as they lift the orbicularis oris, the circular muscle around your mouth, upwards. These muscles receive innervation from various branches of the facial nerve (VII). When activated, they send signals to the brain, indicating the joyful expression of a smile. On some people, the muscles pull too hard, or they may be a little short in the first place, and can pull your upper lip a little higher than normally desired. This excessive pull can be one of the contributing factors to a “gummy” smile.
A Botox inject, administered by Dr. Yankie herself, will create a condition where the muscle cannot pull as aggressively as before, and therefore, allowing the upper lip to remain lower than before.
Gum Recontouring using Laser
Using a laser is the trusted and safer method than the old method of using a scalpel. A soft tissue laser is used to remove gum tissue with surgical precision and minimal damage. The Laser will immediately sterilize any treated areas to reduce any chance infection while, at the same time, cauterize the tissue to significantly reduce or eliminate any bleeding. In the end, after everything has healed, you are left with a smile that is not hindered by excess gum tissue.
Reshaping of teeth (Odontoplasty)
The option of Odontoplasty as one of the elements in Smile Recontouring is a simple procedure where Dr. Yankie will remove a very small amount of your enamel to change the form of your tooth or teeth. The goal of Odontoplasty in Smile Recontouring is to alter your teeth’ shape, length, or appearance to improve your look.
This technique involves skillfully adjusting dental enamel to enhancing the visual appeal of your teeth to contribute to an overall appearance of your smile. By introducing balance to your smile, it’s considered one of the most conservative cosmetic treatments available. Moreover, it’s a swift and painless process, with results that manifest right before your eyes.
Dr. Yankie likes to call this process, Transforming Imperfections with Precision
The wonders of reshaping and recontouring extend to various dental concerns:
- Crooked or minorly overlapping teeth: Achieving a uniform and symmetrical line across your smile. Minor overcrowding and misalignments which cause an overlapping of teeth by a tiny amount.
- Chips and irregularities: Through recontouring, Dr. Yankie will delicately smooth away these imperfections to unveil a straight and natural looking smile line. Also known as the Facial Surface (the surface that people see when they you smile) of your teeth.
- Fine-Tuning Your Bite: Even minor bite irregularities are elegantly addressed, ensuring not only a visually appealing smile but also a harmonious bite. Even the slightest misalignment
- Refining Texture: If present, the uneven surface of the enamel will be tended to by Dr. Yankie, refining the texture of your teeth to a smoother finish.
- Balancing Canines: The length of your canines, those distinct pointed teeth at the sides of your mouth, can be harmonized to complement the overall symmetry of your smile.
Under the skilled hands of dental professionals, enamel shaping and recontouring open the door to a smile that not only radiates beauty but also offers comfort and balance.
Bonding / Reshaping
A beautiful smile doesn’t just happen overnight—it’s a result of careful craftsmanship, precision, and sometimes, a little reshaping. If you’ve ever wished for a smile that’s more balanced, natural-looking, or simply more aligned, bonding and reshaping might be exactly what you need. This non-invasive cosmetic treatment can transform your smile with minimal time and effort.
At Dr. Yankie’s Mill Valley office, smile contouring and rebuilding using bonding and reshaping techniques offer patients a quick, effective way to address imperfections and boost their confidence. Let’s take a deeper dive into how bonding and reshaping can help you smile with ease.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Think of dental bonding as a magic wand for your smile. It’s a tooth-colored resin that’s applied to your teeth to correct imperfections like chips, gaps, or uneven edges. The resin is sculpted to match your natural tooth structure, then hardened with a special light, making it as durable as it is beautiful.
What makes bonding so attractive is its versatility. It can be used to:
- Fill in chips and cracks
- Close small gaps between teeth
- Reshape misshapen or uneven teeth
- Restore worn-down enamel
Not only is bonding effective, but it’s also minimally invasive and affordable, making it a go-to option for many patients. Plus, it can often be done in a single visit—no multiple appointments or long waiting periods involved.
Smile Contouring and Reshaping with Bonding
Smile contouring is a form of art. It’s about taking what you’ve got and giving it that little “polish” to bring out the best in your smile. Bonding plays a key role in this process. Whether your teeth are too short, jagged, or uneven, bonding allows Dr. Yankie to make small but impactful changes that harmonize your smile.
Imagine your front teeth are slightly too short, or one tooth sticks out awkwardly. With bonding, these imperfections can be corrected swiftly. The resin is applied, sculpted, and set to match the size and shape of your natural teeth. Suddenly, the smile that seemed a little off is now beautifully aligned—without the need for extensive procedures like veneers or braces.
This is what makes bonding so powerful for smile contouring: it’s subtle but transformative. A little reshaping, a little tweaking, and a smile is revitalized.
Rebuilding Teeth with Bonding
In more complex cases, bonding is not just about contouring—it’s about rebuilding. If your teeth are cracked, broken, or have large cavities, bonding can provide a quick and lasting solution. It’s the perfect material for restoring function and form without resorting to more invasive treatments like crowns or bridges.
Here’s the catch: bonding can be done on one tooth or several, making it a versatile treatment for both small touch-ups and larger smile makeovers. Whether it’s for a front tooth or a back molar, bonding works seamlessly with your natural teeth, offering durability and aesthetic appeal.
The Benefits of Smile Contouring and Rebuilding
- Instant Results: Bonding can be completed in one appointment, so you don’t have to wait weeks or undergo multiple visits to restore your smile. The instant results leave you looking and feeling great.
- Minimal Tooth Removal: Unlike crowns or veneers, bonding doesn’t require the removal of much natural tooth structure, making it a non-invasive option for improving your smile.
- Affordable Option: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to improve your smile, bonding is an excellent choice. It’s more affordable than other cosmetic treatments, yet provides lasting results.
- Natural Appearance: Thanks to modern bonding materials, the resin used can be precisely matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth, giving you a seamless and natural-looking smile.
- Long-Lasting Results: When properly maintained, bonded teeth can last for years, providing durable and functional improvements to your smile.
Why Choose Bonding and Reshaping?
For those who want to enhance their smile without the hassle of more invasive procedures, bonding and reshaping are the ideal solutions. Whether it’s making subtle adjustments or taking on a full smile transformation, these treatments are designed to fit your needs. Best of all, they don’t require a lengthy recovery time, so you can leave the office with a smile that looks—and feels—perfect.
With bonding, Dr. Yankie can help you rebuild a smile that’s truly yours. No need for complex procedures, no need for multiple visits—just a beautiful, lasting smile with a little help from modern dentistry.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to correct imperfections, reshape your smile, or restore your teeth to their natural beauty, bonding and reshaping can provide an effective, non-invasive solution. Whether it’s a quick contouring to enhance your smile or a rebuilding procedure for more extensive damage, these techniques allow Dr. Yankie to give you the results you’ve been dreaming of. With a focus on comfort, affordability, and stunning results, smile contouring and rebuilding could be your ticket to the confident smile you deserve.
Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Yankie and discover how bonding and reshaping can transform your smile!
Is BOTOX® Safe?
While Botox is considered a relatively safe procedure compared to surgical alternatives, it’s important to remember that it should be administered by not just a licensed professional, but more importantly, one with a skilled artistic eye. The subtlety and precision required to achieve natural, flattering results demand attention to detail and expertise beyond basic certification.
As with other non-surgical or injectable treatments, the benefits of jaw Botox are temporary. This means you’ll need to schedule regular follow-up sessions to maintain your desired face shape or continue experiencing relief from pain and discomfort.
Typically, the average interval between sessions ranges from three to six months.
Important Safety Information
- Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are preexisting before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months
- Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms, including loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness; double vision; blurred vision; drooping eyelids; hoarseness or change or loss of voice; trouble saying words clearly; loss of bladder control; trouble breathing; and trouble swallowing
There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX® has been used at the recommended dose to treat Chronic Migraine, severe underarm sweating, Blepharospasm, Strabismus, or when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and/or forehead lines.
Indications
BOTOX® is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used:
- To treat overactive bladder symptoms such as a strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting accidents (urge urinary incontinence), a strong need to urinate right away (urgency), and urinating often (frequency) in adults 18 years and older when another type of medicine (anticholinergic) does not work well enough or cannot be taken
- To treat leakage of urine (incontinence) in adults 18 years and older with overactive bladder caused by a neurologic disease who still have leakage or cannot tolerate the side effects after trying an anticholinergic medication
- To treat overactive bladder due to a neurologic disease in children 5 years of age and older when another type of medicine (anticholinergic) does not work well enough or cannot be taken
- To prevent headaches in adults with Chronic Migraine who have 15 or more days each month with headache lasting 4 or more hours each day in people 18 years or older
- To treat increased muscle stiffness in people 2 years of age and older with spasticity
- To treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that happens with Cervical Dystonia (CD) in people 16 years and older
- To treat certain types of eye muscle problems (Strabismus) or abnormal spasm of the eyelids (Blepharospasm) in people 12 years of age and older
BOTOX® is also injected into the skin to treat the symptoms of severe underarm sweating (severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis) when medicines used on the skin (topical) do not work well enough in people 18 years and older.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.
It is not known whether BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic are safe and effective to prevent headaches in patients with migraine who have 14 or fewer headache days each month (episodic migraine).
BOTOX® has not been shown to help people perform task-specific functions with their upper limbs or increase movement in joints that are permanently fixed in position by stiff muscles.
It is not known whether BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic are safe and effective for severe sweating anywhere other than your armpits.
It is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic is safe and effective for use more than 1 time every 3 months.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (continued)
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of receiving BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Do not receive BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic if you are allergic to any of its ingredients (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
Do not receive BOTOX® for the treatment of urinary incontinence if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or cannot empty your bladder on your own and are not routinely catheterizing. Due to the risk of urinary retention (difficulty fully emptying the bladder), only patients who are willing and able to initiate catheterization posttreatment, if required, should be considered for treatment.
Patients treated for overactive bladder: In clinical trials, 36 of the 552 patients had to self-catheterize for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX® compared to 2 of the 542 treated with placebo. The median duration of postinjection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX® 100 Units (n = 36) was 63 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 214 days), as compared to a median duration of 11 days (minimum 3 days to maximum 18 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 2). Patients with diabetes mellitus treated with BOTOX® were more likely to develop urinary retention than nondiabetics.
Adult patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease: In clinical trials, 30.6% of adult patients (33/108) who were not using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) prior to injection, required catheterization for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX® 200 Units as compared to 6.7% of patients (7/104) treated with placebo. The median duration of post injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX® 200 Units (n = 33) was 289 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 530 days) as compared to a median duration of 358 days (minimum 2 days to maximum 379 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 7).
Among adult patients not using CIC at baseline, those with MS were more likely to require CIC post injection than those with SCI.
The dose of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic is not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.
Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported, including itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness, or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms; further injection of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic should be discontinued.
Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects, including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Tell your doctor if you have any breathing-related problems. Your doctor may monitor you for breathing problems during treatment with BOTOX® for spasticity or for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition. The risk of developing lung disease in patients with reduced lung function is increased in patients receiving BOTOX®.
Cornea problems have been reported. Cornea (surface of the eye) problems have been reported in some people receiving BOTOX® for their Blepharospasm, especially in people with certain nerve disorders. BOTOX® may cause the eyelids to blink less, which could lead to the surface of the eye being exposed to air more than is usual. Tell your doctor if you experience any problems with your eyes while receiving BOTOX®. Your doctor may treat your eyes with drops, ointments, contact lenses, or with an eye patch.
Bleeding behind the eye has been reported. Bleeding behind the eyeball has been reported in some people receiving BOTOX® for their Strabismus. Tell your doctor if you notice any new visual problems while receiving BOTOX®.
Bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections (common colds) have been reported. Bronchitis was reported more frequently in adults receiving BOTOX® for upper limb spasticity. Upper respiratory infections were also reported more frequently in adults with prior breathing-related problems with spasticity. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX® for upper limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were reported more frequently. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX® for lower limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were not reported more frequently than placebo.
Autonomic dysreflexia in patients treated for overactive bladder due to a neurologic disease. Autonomic dysreflexia associated with intradetrusor injections of BOTOX® could occur in patients treated for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition and may require prompt medical therapy. In clinical trials, the incidence of autonomic dysreflexia was greater in adult patients treated with BOTOX® 200 Units compared with placebo (1.5% versus 0.4%, respectively).
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have or have had bleeding problems; have plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have weakness of forehead muscles, trouble raising your eyebrows, drooping eyelids, and any other abnormal facial change; have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and are being treated for urinary incontinence (symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include pain or burning with urination, frequent urination, or fever); have problems emptying your bladder on your own and are being treated for urinary incontinence; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.
Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.
Other side effects of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic include dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; eye problems such as double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, dry eyes; drooping eyebrows; and upper respiratory tract infection. In adults being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and painful urination. In children being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and bacteria in the urine. If you have difficulty fully emptying your bladder on your own after receiving BOTOX®, you may need to use disposable self-catheters to empty your bladder up to a few times each day until your bladder is able to start emptying again.
For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see BOTOX® full Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.
and
Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.
Frances H. Yankie D.D.S.
“Considered by many as one of the best Invisalign, Cosmetic and Family Dentist in Mill Valley, CA.”
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Copyright 2025 by Frances H. Yankie, DDS.
All rights reserved.
Respective credit to all rightful holders of copyrighted content.
Copyright 2025 by Frances H. Yankie, DDS.
All rights reserved.
Respective credit to all rightful holders of copyrighted content.