Creating the Ideal Smile: Aesthetic Principles in Cosmetic Dentistry
Dentistry and its many specialties consider the health of your teeth, gums, mouth tissues, and jaw. However, while tooth function and health are essential, the overall appearance and finished look after treatment are also critical.
Whether you’re getting braces, veneers, or teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry design considers how the treatment will enhance your smile and compliment your face. A few aesthetic principles are key to creating beautiful smiles.
Creating beautiful smiles is a mix of art, science, math, and expertise. A cosmetic dentist considers your facial and jaw structure, tooth size and proportions, gum margins, bite and lip contact, and tooth color.
Your dentist starts by examining your facial structure to get an overall sense of your entire face and how your smile fits in. Looking for symmetry means your dentist:
These measurements help your dentist see the synergy and parallels within your facial structure and its components. With this information, a cosmetic dentist can plan changes using technology and see how they will impact your overall smile.
Once your dentist has examined the symmetry of your face and smile, they can start to compare individual parts of your smile, such as lip and tooth contact. Known as the incisal edge position, this is the edge of your front incisors against your lips and the tooth visibility when you smile or talk.
Your dentist may have you say certain sounds or move your lips to assess how these interact. They’ll check where your teeth land on your lips and how much of your teeth are visible during speech. The more you can see your teeth, the younger you look.
Next, they’ll look at your gum margins or the gum line around each tooth. You may have extra gum tissue, which may give you a gummy smile, or gum loss, which may cause your teeth to look unhealthy.
Measuring or assessing the gum margins helps your dentist plan for tooth size. You may need a gum graft or other treatment to help improve dental health or appearance.
The next step involves measuring and designing your tooth size or dimensions. An ideal tooth has a width of 78% of its length, meaning if your front tooth is roughly 10mm long, it should be 7.8mm wide.
If you need veneers or other treatments, your dentist will factor in any spaces or gaps to determine the correct proportions. The two front teeth are the starting point for any smile design, so they’ll check how they line up with the midline of your face and check for symmetry between them. The dentist will design the silhouette so that the teeth mirror each other for perfect symmetry.
Choosing a tooth color is often based on your personal preference. Your dentist will design the artificial or final look to have a natural tooth texture and appearance, but you can select the color, whether you want brilliant white or a more natural look. If you only need to replace one tooth, your dentist will help match the color to the surrounding teeth so it blends seamlessly.
Creating beautiful smiles takes a few steps and involves cutting-edge technology. The process starts with an exam and may include digital imaging to confirm your teeth are healthy before treatment.
Your dentist will then use an intraoral camera and scanner to take high-resolution images of your teeth and produce a 3D model. With that information, they’ll plan and design your smile using CAD or design software. The result is a precise, custom smile to complement your natural features.
Cosmetic dentistry is a precise field with life-changing results. Our team at Starbody Dental is dedicated to the details that help you achieve a beautiful smile. Book an appointment to learn how we can help.
Call 615-896-1330 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
