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by Sameer Puri, DDS
According
to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 9 out of
10 people surveyed agreed that an attractive smile is an important asset
to their overall appearance. In addition, three-fourths of the same group
said that an unattractive smile could hurt their chances for career
success. Despite this overwhelming perception, most people are unaware
that their smile can be improved with cosmetic dentistry. With recent
advances in materials and techniques, cosmetic dentists are able to take a
worn, dull, chipped, crooked smile and transform it, in many cases, in as
little as two visits.
The term
for this transformation of a person’s smile is referred to as Smile
Design. Smile Design is a technique used in our practice whenever a
patient is evaluated for any type of esthetic enhancement to their teeth
that involves more than one or two teeth. Since the main focus of our
practice is cosmetic dentistry, patients normally come in to the office
seeking better-looking teeth. The patient may not realize it but what they
really want is a better-looking smile. Though teeth are a major component
of a beautiful smile, they are not the only component. It is possible to
have nice looking teeth and not have a good-looking smile. The job of the
cosmetic dentist is to evaluate the teeth, as well as the entire smile
complex, the overall structures that make up a smile. By concentrating on
only improving the teeth, the true desires of the patients chief concern
may not be addressed.
Determining
which aspects of a persons smile can be changed is not an arbitrary
process but a precise scientific diagnosis in which certain criteria must
be followed to achieve the ideal smile. The doctor usually does this at
the information-gathering visit after a thorough conversation has
determined the specific desires and expectations of the patient. By doing
a comprehensive exam which includes obtaining diagnostic models of the
patient, doing a diagnostic wax up of the teeth, a complete photographic
series, and possibly computer imaging, the doctor is able to gather all
the needed information to determine which aspects of the smile are
deficient and what steps need to be taken to correct the defects. If you
visit a doctor that does not do the above steps to diagnose your
condition, consider finding a new doctor. These are the basic minimums
that must be done for a thorough evaluation to determine the patients
needs.
Lets go
through each component of a smile one by one and discuss how they all come
together to create the perfect smile. We will also discuss how cosmetic
dentistry plays a role in changing these components. Determining the
proper technique to restore the teeth will have a dramatic effect on the
supporting components.
The first
component of a beautiful smile is the lips. They play a vital role in the
overall scheme of a smile design. Lips can be crooked; one side may be
higher than the other. Uneven lips will reflect poorly on the teeth
underneath causing them to appear disproportionate and mismatched as well.
Are the
lips full or flat? Full lips are considered attractive and sexy, while
flat lips detract from the overall appearance. The main support for the
lips comes from the teeth. If the teeth are worn, abraded, or missing,
they will not provide proper support to the lips giving them a “caved
in”, flat look. We have found that by properly restoring the teeth, that
not only is the appearance of the teeth improved but also the appearance
of the lips. This can often reduce or eliminate the need for surgical
enhancement of the lips with collagen by a plastic surgeon.
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Do the lips
hide the teeth meaning that not enough of the teeth show when smiling?
This may indicate a problem with the bite. Worn teeth will lead to a
collapsed bite that is evident when the lips do not show the teeth when
smiling. Cosmetically restoring the teeth will dramatically improve the
appearance of the lips leading to a more pleasing smile.
The next
component of a smile is the gingival display, or more commonly known as
gum tissue display. Does extra gum tissue show during the smile? This is
often referred to as a “gummy smile”. A gummy smile will “drown”
out the teeth, meaning that the first thing people notice is the gum
tissue when they should be noticing the teeth. Is the level of the gums
even on the top of the teeth or is the gum tissue uneven looking causing
the teeth to appear to be different sizes? Is the level of the gum tissue
on the top teeth at the same height as the upper lip? This is ideal in the
most esthetic smiles. If it is not, there may be too much gum tissue
showing. All of these imperfections in the gum tissue need to be corrected
prior to restoring the teeth. Failure to correct the gum display will
cause an otherwise beautiful smile to appear average. This step is
critical and must be properly diagnosed during the information-gathering
visit.
Another
component of smile design is the condition of the supporting facial
muscles. Is the area around the lips full of wrinkles? The bite may be
collapsed leading to those wrinkles? A collapsed bite in addition to
compromising your smile and lips will also compromise the facial features.
The wrinkles at the edge of your lips are often caused by a collapsed
bite. Worn and short teeth often accompany this. Correcting the bite will
not only improve the appearance of your teeth and smile but will reduce
the amount of wrinkles that you show. If you are considering a face-lift
surgery to improve the appearance, consider a consult with a cosmetic
dentist to evaluate if restoring the teeth can be of any help.
The final
and most important component of smile design is the teeth. Are the teeth
crooked, chipped, cracked, dull, discolored or full of gaps? Are they too
large? Are they too small? Any of these imperfections will have a drastic
impact on the smile. An attractive person may lose their appeal with less
then perfect teeth. Their perception is completely changed in the
public’s eyes when they smile and show their imperfect teeth. There are
simple solutions to improving the teeth. Techniques such as bleaching,
bonding, veneers and crowns, and “instant orthodontics” allow anyone
to have perfect teeth and therefore the perfect smile.
A qualified
cosmetic dentist can correct any of the above components of a smile. The
most important thing to do is to find a doctor who can recognize and
diagnose the individual needs properly. There is much more to getting that
perfect smile than simply having your teeth capped, bleached or veneered.
Proper diagnosis and treatment planning by your doctor is essential to
getting the picture perfect results.
The
information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this
procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you
will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The
best method of determining your options is to consult qualified dentists
who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.
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Advisory
This information is for
educational purposes only, and does not replace face-to-face
consultations with licensed medical professionals. In no event shall
Filipino Dentist.Com, or the featured doctor be liable to you or
anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on
such information. |
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