The group, from California Dental Arts in Cupertino, had worked nonstop for a week to craft the crowns and veneers that now grace Halbrook's mouth. Halbrook, an oil-rig worker from Bakersfield, received an "extreme makeover" from producers of the daytime talk show. It was nearly a superhuman feat to complete a full mouth of teeth in such a short time, but the dental lab is used to widening the smiles of those who can't always afford the procedure.

Lonnie Frangadakis was one of the California Dental Arts representatives on Feb. 26 in Williams' Manhattan studio. A certified dental technician, Frangadakis founded the center 30 years ago and has seen it grow from a facility with a single worker to a building full of craftsmen.

This was the first time he had ever been asked to participate in a makeover for television. He was referred by Dr. Jumoke Oyedele, a Sunnyvale dentist who has previously performed makeovers for the show. "She knew of us by reputation," Frangadakis says.

"Initially, I thought someone was pulling my leg."

He evaluated all the particulars—a full mouth of 28 teeth needed to be created in a week, when such a job normally takes two. There was also the option of getting paid or taking on the $12,000 case pro bono for a mention in the show's credits.

Frangadakis makes a point of donating dental services to clients with financial difficulties and chose the credits, so the real question was whether his team could do the job.

"The success of any business is its people," he says, "and I had two great people with great communication and coordination who pulled out all the stops."

Frangadakis turned to Matt Froess, the director of his cosmetic department, and Setsuko Sueoka, a ceramist. The two have a combined 46 years of experience in the field. "It was like I had to make a cake and build it up," Froess explains, "and [Sueoka] did the frosting."

The full team first met on Feb. 16, a Monday, to evaluate Halbrook's mouth, and with a great deal of overtime, Froess and Sueoka finished the full set of teeth, ready to be permanently bonded, on Friday. "There was no cushion," Sueoka says. "We didn't have any time to remake anything." The procedure took place that Saturday at Oyedele's office, and the California Dental crew members brought over their equipment in case any last-minute adjustments were needed. Fitting Halbrook's new teeth in place took nearly a full day and was caught on tape by the show's camera operators.

Halbrook then flew to New York for the remainder of his makeover, including the cutting of his long hair and a new wardrobe. The show was taped the next Thursday—a week and a half after Frangadakis and his team first undertook the project—and the three flew on their own dime to watch the taping.

"I would like to do more of this stuff," he says. "It was exciting. It put the whole office on a buzz."

California Dental Arts has manufactured full mouths before, but most of its business comes from contracting out with area dentists whose patients need single crowns or other small appliances. Seventy percent of its business comes from orders like these or contracts with dental schools in the area. The other 30 percent comes from mail orders, originating from customers in places as far flung as Montana and Alaska who send in their measurements.

Such widespread business was not the norm for Frangadakis in the beginning. The son of Greek immigrants, he founded his own practice as a normal next step in life. "I wanted a challenge," he says. "That's just the way we are."

He and his family moved to Cupertino in 1958 from Daly City, and he attended Lincoln Elementary School and Fremont High School. Frangadakis currently lives in Saratoga with his wife and has two children in college. "I grew up only a mile from where I live now," he says.

Over the years, he expanded his practice, building at his current location 24 years ago. His brother, a dentist, works next door, and California Dental Arts has since become one of the largest dental labs in the Bay Area. Frangadakis hasn't seen business spike too much yet because of the Montel Williams mention, but the growing trend of extreme makeover shows in general has proven to people that altering their smiles isn't such a daunting proposition.

"With braces, it can take years," he says, "but you can see a dramatic smile in about two weeks."

The new smile on Halbrook's face was just one of the changes achieved through his makeover, which his children requested through a letter to the talk show. Frangadakis and his crew sat in the audience, unsure if Williams even knew they were there. Williams did point out Oyedele and the stylist who changed Halbrook's wardrobe, but the California Dental Arts group still felt the high and recognition of a job well done.

"When they asked him what he liked the best, he said the teeth," Sueoka says.

California Dental Arts is located at 20421 Pacifica Drive. For more information, call 408.255.1020 or visit www.caldentalarts.com.