Understanding the Oral Lift: Oral Design
World-renowned clinical dental technician and master of the transformative ‘Oral Lift’, Christchurch’s Richard Greenlees sits down with Metropol to unpack the aesthetic artistry behind his work.
Walk us through the Oral Lift treatment process… what can a patient expect in their journey?
The Oral Design NZ experience is truly unique. I guide each patient through every step, greeting them at the door and investing considerable time at the initial consultation stage, reviewing the patient’s history and their pre-dentures smile, before the new smile is designed and fabricated. During this time I am closely considering their facial structure and what I can do for the best result and developing a treatment plan. During treatment, patients may decide to go to a higher level (like the patient pictured) with my Oral Lift level of facial manipulation, or discerning patients might like my ‘Rolls Royce’ standard that includes zirconia teeth for all the anterior teeth.
Tell us about your signature Oral Lift! How do you restore years of youth and lost confidence?
I think the most important thing with the Oral Lift is to understand what the patients require. This starts inside the oral cavity and finishes with the smile. Using photos from the patient’s youth, I recreate and restore the face and skeletal shape that can be lost after years of wearing dentures. I call this an Oral Lift because the facial tissues are brought back into the correct position, the lips are reformed, and beauty and confidence is restored. When the interior ‘oral architecture’ is positioned correctly, it adequately restores the facial structures as you can see with this patient. The Oral Lift (which was coined and invented by me at Oral Design NZ) is a worldwide exclusive that I provide here in Christchurch. I have patients come from all over the world for this treatment. Patients that have this level of transformation can see improved results even months and years after treatment, because the oral architecture acts as a gymnasium to exercise the surrounding facial muscles.
Your craft can be likened to ‘aesthetic artistry’. How does this guide your denture-making and fitting process?
Hand crafted dentures are still the ultimate in aesthetic dentures. Yes, I do include digital phases in some of my work, but the majority is handmade or hand manipulated. I have been making teeth since 1980, and over this time I have built protocols that put the patient at the forefront of treatment. I have studied at university and undertaken numerous training courses all over the world, with the world’s best. These days, I am regularly asked to lecture and treat people around the world… but to be honest my greatest joy comes from making and working in my studio.
I’m intent on pursuing the balance between nature and man-made. Teeth are as different as fingerprints, so dentures reflect this – they’re as unique and individual as the people they are made for, helping to reclaim their identity. I create beautiful bespoke dentures with small nuances in the fabrication, colour and shape, and even slight imperfections to create a uniquely individual smile.
Call Richard on 03 379 1222 or email info@oraldesign.co.nz.
