David Maffei, Businessman
David Maffei
Procedure: dental implants, upper and lower veneers
If you feel anxious about plunging into the world of today’s cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry, there’s no need to feel ashamed as well. David Maffei is a confident, attractive, successful businessman. He makes important decisions in real estate development and construction with Silver Oaks Communities/Groove Construction Inc., every day. But when it came time to consider dental implants, he was at a loss.
“I had a permanent bridge and broke a tooth. Dr. Golpa said, don’t worry, we’ll do an implant,” Maffei said. “I’m telling you, I’m a guy that was scared to death of the dentist. I already had this anxiety, then I talked to a friend who said, “It’s terrible, it takes four months, you have all this pain, you’ve gotta heal, you’ve gotta do this and do that…” I went to Dr. Golpa and said, “Do I have to do that tooth?”
Maffei said Dr. Golpa reassured him that not only would it not take him four months to have him healed and the tooth fully restored, but that it would be done without pain. Maffei also opted for a full smile makeover with top and bottom porcelain veneers to freshen up what was already a great smile. But if you think Maffei was always so fortunate, guess again.
“I grew up in a family where nobody took care of their teeth,” he said. “I never even went to a dentist till I was 15 and I hate to tell this - when I opened my mouth, it was shameful. At 16 I went to work and made the money to get my teeth fixed. I’ve been a fanatic about them ever since.”
Maffei said that early decision was a good one – personally and professionally.
“People always said I had a winning smile,” he said. “I work with people on the job every day. Does a great smile help? Absolutely.”
But Maffei was about to find out a great smile could get even better.
“I had beautiful teeth, but five fillings in the front teeth from my childhood I had to have refilled every five years,” he said. “Now that they’re veneered, they’re covered, so I don’t have to worry about that. And they are very natural looking, which is what I wanted, just like my own teeth but better. Dr. Golpa is an artist.”
And the dreaded implant? Maffei said through the skillful use of conscious sedation, he experienced no pain or anxiety during placement of the implant or any of the cosmetic work. And his friends’ dire predictions of extended, painful healing proved baseless.
“I still have the pain medication prescription I never had filled,” Maffei said. “People said, “Wow, you must have a great tolerance for pain,” and I said, no, I had a great doctor. It’s all in the way the doctor does it and his skill. Dr. Golpa studied architecture and engineering, and I believe he brings all of that to what he does now. Had I known it would be this easy, I would never have hesitated.”
Maffei said not only does he have no regrets, his smile makeover and implant exceeded expectations.
“Not only do I feel good and look good, I find I even chew better,” he said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to take anyone I cared about and say, “Take the trip, see Dr. Golpa and get your teeth done.” That’s how wonderful this experience is.”
