Ask an Expert {Austin Dental Spa}
Q&A With Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Mark Sweeney
Words by Sam Lauron Photo by Shelby Bella
At Austin Dental Spa, improving smiles is a way to improve lives. Dr. Sweeney and his team are dedicated to making patients feel confident about their teeth through their cosmetic services like teeth whitening, veneers, and restoration.
Why did you choose to specialize in cosmetic dentistry over general dentistry?
When I was in dental school in the ’70s, we weren’t even taught cosmetic procedures. Once I started in practice in 1979, I found that a LOT of people are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth, even after orthodontic treatment (braces). I wanted to be able to help these people.
Nobody in 40 years has ever hugged me over a root canal, even a really good one. But when I give patients the whitest, prettiest teeth they’ve ever had, I get hugs, flowers, Tiff’s Treats. We’re changing lives.
What do you tell people who are considering a cosmetic procedure but aren’t sure if it’s right for them?
It changed my life, and it will change theirs. In 40 years, I have never had a patient say, “I wish I hadn’t done that, or spent the money.” I routinely hear: “I wish I had done this YEARS ago.” Just do it.
One of your services is teeth whitening. How long does teeth whitening last? Is there anything we can do to maintain white teeth over time?
Everyone’s teeth darken with age. Whitening “turns back the clock” at least 10 years, sometimes whiter than they’ve ever been, but gradually, teeth will begin to darken again. Most people come every 3-5 years for another session, although I have many patients (and ALL my employees) who whiten every year, to keep their teeth as white as they can get them. There is absolutely ZERO harm to the teeth, except in extreme situations, which are very rare.
When it comes to oral hygiene, what is your best advice for taking care of our teeth?
Everyone is different, with different immune systems and different tolerances and strengths and weaknesses. Most of what we deal with is bacterial: decay, gum disease, bad breath. So, obviously if you control the bacterial count, you control the disease. But people can lose teeth due to trauma, excessive wear, bad genetics, any number of factors. Modern dentistry is better able to address dental disease than ever before, and it’s always easier to prevent and maintain than it is to correct a problem once it exists. We really stress prevention at Austin Dental Spa.
What is your favorite part about working with people to improve their smiles?
I love working with my hands and building things that function, so I think I was born to be a dentist. But I didn’t realize until I got out of school and opened my office that dentistry is really a “people business.” I have 4 to 5 generations of families who I have cared for over my 40-year career, and I have watched the kids, the grandkids, and now the great-grandkids grow up, graduate, move away, move back, get married, have their own kids; I get to be a part of all that. I love my patients as much as I love taking care of their teeth and helping them be healthier and more attractive. And I live in Austin, Texas, the Center of the Universe. We’ve “grown up” together, and I couldn’t imagine living anyplace else.
Contact:
(512) 380-1300
3305 Northland Dr., Suite 515
austindentalspa.com
@austindentalspa
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