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Winnipeg North Dental
A dentist and patient reviewing a comprehensive restorative treatment plan
Hiding your teeth from people

Full-mouth Reconstruction for Stonewall Residents

Closed-lip smiles, a hand over your mouth and dodging photographs can become second nature when teeth are damaged or missing. Stonewall is outside the City of Winnipeg, and residents come in to our McPhillips Street clinic to talk it through.

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More than a vanity concern

When Embarrassment Keeps You From Asking for Help

Feeling ashamed of your teeth can make it harder to book, which then allows problems to continue. Being self-conscious is a legitimate reason to ask about care, and it often sits alongside practical troubles such as difficult chewing, broken teeth or spaces. Those deserve attention in their own right.

Appearance can be part of a reconstruction plan, even though health, structure and function come first. Where provisional care is used, it can offer an early way to evaluate appearance before final work. Your assessment will show what is possible for you, and no result can be promised in advance.

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Waiting area with a blue bench and white chairs at Winnipeg North Dental
Potted plants, white chairs and a small side table against patterned window blinds.

Say what you avoid

Smiling, speaking up or being photographed are all legitimate concerns to bring to a dentist.

Look beyond the surface

What bothers you visibly may also connect to your bite, gums or remaining tooth structure.

Be part of the look

Your preferences on appearance can be discussed once the health needs have been understood.

From feeling to findings

Put the concern into words the plan can use.

A general wish to feel better about your teeth is a fine starting point. Getting a little more specific may help the dentist relate what you see to what is happening clinically.

What you may be noticing

Describe these however comes naturally. Technical language is not needed for them to be taken seriously.

  • Broken or very short front teeth
  • Visible spaces when you speak or laugh
  • Old dental work that has darkened or worn
  • Teeth that have drifted from where they were

What may be looked at

Behind the visible concerns are structural questions that may influence any change in appearance.

  • Whether decay or infection needs treating first
  • How gums are framing and supporting the teeth
  • Whether wear or the bite caused the damage
  • Which restorative options might suit each area

Treating visible teeth alone may not be sensible if deeper needs have not been managed. Ask how your appearance goals fit into the order of care.

A first conversation about it

Roughly what bringing this up might involve.

Your assessment may differ from this outline, and staff can tell you how it would be set up. As each appointment involves a trip into Winnipeg, you may also want to ask how long to allow.

Request your visit
  1. 01

    Start wherever you are comfortable

    You can raise your appearance worries immediately, or wait until you have had a chance to settle in.

  2. 02

    Allow a full examination

    Your teeth, gums, roots and bite are checked, because what you see may be just one part of the picture.

  3. 03

    Photographs may be taken

    If this feels awkward, say so, and ask how the images would be used in studying options and explaining the plan.

  4. 04

    Hear what is realistic

    The dentist can then discuss which goals could be addressed, in what order, and what the limitations may be.

Finding the words beforehand

You can write it down if saying it feels hard.

Some people find it difficult to begin this discussion aloud. A short note listing what bothers you can be passed across or read out, which spares you from having to find the words on the day.

Embarrassment should never hold you back when a tooth hurts or swelling appears. Call the clinic for advice in those situations.

Might be good to note

  • Situations where you find yourself hiding your teeth.
  • An older photo showing a smile you preferred, if you have one.
  • Anything you take regularly, and any diagnoses you have had.
  • Questions you may feel shy about asking aloud.
Consultation room with a white desk and black chairs at Winnipeg North Dental
Dental treatment room with a light blue chair at Winnipeg North Dental

A consultation room with a green plant in the corner, and a chair upholstered in blue.

Letting someone look

Opening your mouth can be the hardest part.

Many people dread that moment more than any procedure. Dentists look at teeth as a matter of routine, and if you are feeling exposed, simply saying so may take some of the weight off.

Begin by talking

Ask whether you can talk about your concerns for a moment before any examination starts.

Ask before photographs

You are entitled to know why images are being taken, and what they will be used for.

Give yourself some credit

Asking for help with something you have hidden for a long time takes real effort.

While changes are under way

Progress can feel slower than you hoped.

Since appearance often comes late in the order, the teeth that bother you most may change last. Knowing that in advance can make those middle stages easier to live with.

01

Ask what will show when

Find out how your teeth might look during each phase, including any provisional stages.

02

Speak up about the look

If a provisional restoration does not feel right, tell the dentist while changes can still be discussed.

03

Protect what has been done

Home care and hygiene visits look after restorations and gums alike, so ask what your plan requires.

Something broken or sore between stages is a reason to phone the clinic, even if the concern seems small or awkward to mention.

Talk with our team
Exterior of the Winnipeg North Dental clinic on McPhillips Street

Winnipeg North Dental

Unit-5 2358 Mcphillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6
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For people living in Stonewall

A Private Conversation at Our Winnipeg Clinic

Stonewall residents are assessed and treated at Winnipeg North Dental, Unit 5, 2358 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg. Follow the directions link for help working out your trip.

Nothing is booked until the clinic replies to your request form with a time. For urgent trouble, including pain or swelling, reach staff at (204) 338-3003.

Questions about coverage?

Talk with our team before your visit or learn about CDCP.

A little clarity before your visit

Your questions, answered.

Helpful details about full-mouth reconstruction in Stonewall.

Ask our team
My teeth embarrass me. Do I need to explain why they got this way?

You need not offer a full account. Background on past treatment or habits can help, but you may share as much as you are comfortable with, and the examination will show a good deal.

Is wanting to smile again a valid reason to come in?

Yes, it is a perfectly reasonable place to begin. The dentist will also look at underlying health and function, since those influence which appearance goals can be achieved.

Can you tell me how my smile will turn out?

No exact result can be promised. You can discuss realistic goals, and where provisional care is used, it may offer an opportunity to evaluate appearance before final restorations.

Do I have to be photographed?

Photographs are among the records that may help in planning a complex case. If you feel uneasy, ask what they would be used for and talk over your concerns with the team.

Can the visible teeth be fixed if the rest need work too?

It depends on what the other problems are. Sometimes the rest of the mouth has to be stabilized first, so ask which steps would need to come ahead of your visible teeth.

How do I get started from Stonewall if I find this hard to discuss?

The form lets you request a visit without a phone conversation, or you may call (204) 338-3003. Either way, staff will respond about an appointment at our Winnipeg clinic.

Without any pressure

Ask about an assessment when you feel ready.

Send our Winnipeg clinic a request online or by telephone. Someone from the clinic will respond with information about a visit.

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