The Makeover That Gave This Widow Her Smile Back
For Carolyn, 65, a former teacher known for her beaming smile, losing confidence in her teeth was more than just a cosmetic concern, it was affecting her entire demeanor. “People used to stop me and say, ‘My God, Carolyn, you’re so happy. You smile all the time,’” she shares. But after years of yellowing, chipped teeth and outdated dental work, she found herself smiling less and feeling self-conscious.
A turning point came after the loss of her husband. “Naturally, I’m going to be dating again and online dating is so image-driven,” she says. “I figured it was time to do something for myself.” Carolyn researched for nearly two years before choosing New York cosmetic dentist Victoria Veytsman, DDS to restore her smile and bring back her confidence.
The Transformation Process
Carolyn’s concerns extended beyond aesthetics. “I had very old restorations that were failing and my bite was off,” she explains. Dr. Veytsman approached her case holistically, considering the health and aesthetics of her smile.
“The smile is one of the first places aging shows up,” Dr. Veytsman says. “Carolyn had lost vertical dimension not just in her teeth, but in the lower third of her face, so the goal was full rejuvenation.” Her treatment plan included a combination of porcelain crowns and restorations to rebuild and brighten her smile. “We didn’t just want to create something that looked great; it had to function well and last for years,” Dr. Veytsman notes.
The process took about three visits, with work done in stages—top teeth first, then the bottom. “Because I had additional work like root canals, it took a bit longer,” Carolyn says. “But it was worth every second.”
Seeing Her New Smile for the First Time
The moment Carolyn saw her new teeth, the transformation was instant. “Pure elation! I basically yelled, ‘Woohoo!’ I haven’t stopped smiling since,” she says. “It’s not just about my teeth looking better—it’s about how I carry myself now. I feel hopeful, confident and excited about the future.”
Dr. Veytsman says these emotional shifts are just as important as the physical transformation. “A smile makeover isn’t just cosmetic. Oral health affects systemic health and a confident smile can change the way you show up in the world.”
Why She Says “Absolutely Go For It!”
For those hesitant about investing in a smile makeover, Carolyn has one message: “Absolutely go for it. I’m 65 and it’s never too late. I would have ended up doing little fixes here and there, but I’m so glad I took the leap to get it all done at once.”
She credits Dr. Veytsman’s warmth and expertise for making the process seamless. “I worried at first—she’s a celebrity dentist, after all! But she and her team made me feel comfortable from the start. She genuinely cares about the health of your teeth, not just how they look.”
Now, Carolyn says she is flashing her radiant new smile everywhere she goes and she feels like herself again. “I keep catching my reflection and thinking, ‘Wow, that’s me!’” she says. “And I love it.”
