COSMETIC DENTISTRY

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, it also lies in the hands of a DENTIST.”

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover-but we all do!

Similarly, a person who is ‘BEAMING’, is generally noticed first amongst all.

Your smile definitely depicts your personality & confidence and even sometimes how successful you are.

But just like the beauty, a smile is more than skin deep and your face seems to know if your smile feels confident or not.

But do we wonder that some smiles look naturally beautiful, are full of confidence, while others look plain or average.

How can teeth make one person look older and other younger?

While nature has been kind to some, others aren’t so lucky! But fortunately, we have now unlocked these principles of nature and what makes a SMILE attractive. We call these “PRINCIPLES OF SMILE DESIGN.”

EVALUATE YOUR OWN SMILE

We blend these design rules with art & science to create a balanced harmony and a pleasing smile, that is strong, durable and attractive.

Knowing these principles of smile design, will keep you analyze the state of your own smile, & also helps you understand what experienced dentists are looking at as they design your perfect smile.

Here goes “YOUR GUIDE TO A MORE CONFIDENT ATTRACTIVE SMILE.”

PRINCIPLES OF SMILE DESIGN

1.CENTRAL INCISOR WIDTH/HEIGHT RATIO:

W/H ratio should be 75-80%. For eg: if width were 8mm & height 10mm, theratio (8/10) = 80%.

2. MESIAL INCLINATION

Each upper tooth visible in the smile should have slight inclination or tilt, that is towards the midline (mesial) of the mouth.

3. MIDLINE PLACEMENT AND CANT

Is your smile positioned centrally on your face and in your mouth?

The midline should be centered between the central incisors, on a line drawn from between the eyes and down through the nose, lips and chin.

The angle of the midline should not be canted, but straight up and down.

4.COLOR, SHADING, STAINS & MARKINGS

Is there a uniformity in shade of your teeth? Do they have same bright color, or one tooth is darker than the rest?

Are there white or dark spots or markings on enamel(front layer of your teeth)?

5. SMILE AT REST

Refers to amount of teeth that appears at rest or with a slight smile. Middle aged adults show 2-4mm of their upper teeth and this amount decreases with age.

6. GUM LINE SYMETTERY

Gum tissue provides “FRAMING” and forms a “CURTAIN” for the teeth.

Evaluate for the symmetry of height and scalloping of gum line on both right and left sides.

7.GUM LINE MARGIN HEIGHTS

The height of gum line margin over the lateral incisors should be slightly lower than the height of gums over the adjacent central incisors and canine teeth.

8.GAPS/DIASTEMA

Is there a space between your front teeth?

9.GUMMY SMILE

Ideally there should be only a slight amount (1-3mm) of gum tissue visible above the front teeth when you smile.

“GUMMY SMILE” is when too much gum tissue shows while you smile.

10. GINGIVAL ZENITH

Refers to the location of the uppermost height of gum line over the tooth and it varies from each tooth. Like centered over each lateral incisor and should be 2/3rd of the way across the face of tooth for central incisor and canine.

11. SMILE LINE FOLLOWS LIP

The biting edge of the upper teeth should parallel or follow the contour of lower lip line in a relaxed/slight smile.

12.FLOSSING CONTACT POINT

The point of tooth contact between front teeth gradually step upward with each tooth.

13. MAL-ALIGNMENT/ CROWDING

Are your teeth crooked or crowded in their position, rather than being even or straight? This generally happens when there isn’t room for each teeth or when jaws are too small.

14. INCISAL EMBRASURE

Evaluate for good definition and separation between the front teeth, incisally.

The outline shape between front teeth should symmetrically increase in size moving away from the midline. This is best seen as a triangle shape wedge between the teeth (on the biting edge).

15. GOLDEN PROPORTION RATIO

This follows the “rule of thirds”. Each tooth away from the midline should be 2-3rdas wide as the previous tooth.

The central incisor should be 1.6 times as wide as lateral and canine 0.6 times as wide as lateral and so on.

16.BLACK TRIANGLE

Is there a dark space at the gum line between the front teeth? It appears when the teeth are too far apart or the underlying bone level dissolves away.

17. VERTICAL DIMENSION

Does the lower one-third of your face appear too short? The loss of vertical dimension makes your face appear older.

As a thumb rule, the measurement between the gumline of the upper and lower central incisor(when biting on your back teeth) ideally averages between 17-1mm and for most people this creates a vertical proportion to lower 1/3rd of face. That is generally pleasing to eye and also healthy jaw and joints.

18. OLD DENTISTRY

Do you see old porcelain crowns have a dark metal line at the gum line OR old dental restorations which are failing or no longer esthetic?

Fillings and crowns experience wear and tear just as do the teeth they are on.

SMILE DESIGN QUIZ

Your honest answers to these questions will indicate whether you require cosmetic dental correction

1) Do you truly like the appearance of your teeth and your smile?

2) Do you feel confident when you smile?

3) Does your smile have spaces/gaps that you don’t like?

4) Are you happy with the color of your teeth, or wish them to be brighter?

5) Do you like the way your teeth and smile are shaped?

2) 6) Are your back chewing teeth missing, thus causing a collapsed bite and an aged look on your face?

7) Are the biting edges of your teeth wearing away? giving you an older look and worn-down smile?

SUMMARY

Following nature’s rules and giving them a touch of modern day dentistry, miracles can happen, in a form where a BEAUTIFUL SMILE is given and this gives you a life changing experience, where your confidence is restored and people become naturally attracted to you because of how you feel about yourself.

FTO ENHANCE YOUR SMILE WITH SPECIALISED DENTISTRY AND PERSONALISED CARE WE DELIVER VENEERS, LAMINATES, ALL CERAMIC CROWNS, TOOTHJEWELLERY AND MANY MORE…

Give your SELF the CONFIDENCE, BEAUTY and HEALTH you deserve!!