HEALTH

HOLLYWOOD SMILE

Star of "Extreme Makeover" shares
techniques with local cosmetic dentists.

STORY BY RONELLE GRIER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN

Dr. Dorfman lectures about cosmetic dentistry.

M

etro Detroit dentists will be able
to better perform their own
"extreme makeovers," thanks to a
presentation by the star dentist from the ABC-
TV show Extreme Makeover, Dr. William
Dorfman.
More than 1,000 local dentists and staff mem-
bers attended the "Extreme Aesthetic
Dentistry" seminar co-sponsored by Dr. Joseph
R. Nemeth, a periodontal specialist in
Southfield, and Dr. John D. Marx, an orthodon-
tics specialist in Madison Heights.
"Extreme Makeover has raised the dental IQ of
America," said Dr. Dorfman of Beverly Hills,
Calif. "The show has highlighted the amazing
artistry that can be involved with dentistry and
shows the great service a dentist can provide to
improve a person's smile and overall oral
health."

According to Dr.
Dorfman, the most fre-
quently requested den-
tal procedures are zoom
whitening and DaVinci
veneers. These teeth-
whitening procedures
have received the most
notoriety from Extreme
Makeover
"Everyone is becom-
ing more appearance
conscious; everyone
wants to look younger
and dentistry is no
exception to achieving
that goal," said Dr.
Nemeth, whose practice
also includes Dr. Robert
Becker, a periodontal
and implant specialist,
and Dr. Stacey Vlachos,
who also specializes in
implants. "We are doing
much more cosmetic
work than in the past."
Some of the procedures performed by Dr.
Nemeth include gum grafting to offset receding
or uneven gum lines, actual lip repositioning
when too much gum tissue is visible and bone
grafting to restore bone
that has been destroyed
because of periodontal dis-
ease.
According to Dr.
Nemeth, the average pro-
cedure runs $2,000-$4,000,
some of which is often cov-
ered by dental insurance.
Melissa Schwartz of
Hazel Park is grateful to
Dr. Nemeth for not only
improving her appearance,
but also for actually saving
several of her teeth. A few

years ago, Schwartz suffered an attack of Steven
Johnson syndrome, a serious allergic reaction
that affects the entire body. The life-threatening
illness caused the gums in the lower front and
upper right portions of her mouth to become
severely eroded, jeopardizing five of her teeth.
Dr. Nemeth restored the damaged gums and
saved the teeth by transplanting tissue from
Schwartz's palate and reconstructing her gum
line.
"It was an amazing transformation," said
Schwartz. "My recovery was speedy and, even
with stitches still in my mouth, my gums look
beautiful."
Dr. Marx has noticed a significant rise in the
number of adults seeking orthodontic services.
He says that as much as 25 percent of his prac-
tice is now devoted to patients long past their
teenage years, compared to approximately 5 per-
cent in the past.
He attributes this trend to the development
of "Invisalign" braces, a series of very thin,
clear plastic devices that straighten teeth while
being less visible. This technology is designed
for people older than 16, whose teeth have
stopped growing and changing.
"I've never seen a happier group of patients
than those using `Invisalign,"' said Dr. Marx.
"They feel as though they're getting away with
something." ❑

n Marx flank
Dentists Joseph Nemeth, left, a
William Dorfman, of "Extreme Makeover" fame.

JNPLATINUM • MARCH 2005 •

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