Smile MakeoverA smile makeover takes into consideration your facial
appearance, skin tone, hair color, teeth (color, width, length,
shape and tooth display), gum tissue and lips to develop your
ideal smile. Smile makeovers are performed for many reasons and
customized according to your unique considerations.
What is it that you like or dislike about your smile or your
teeth? Some aspects of your smile that your cosmetic dentist
will review with you and that could be improved with a smile
makeover include the following:
Tooth Color: Silver or amalgam dental
fillings can be replaced with natural, tooth-colored composite
restorations, while teeth whitening can improve the color of
stained or dulled teeth. Tooth color and shading are important
considerations during the evaluation of and preparation for
various procedures, including porcelain veneers, crowns,
bridges, composite bonding and dental implants.
When
considering the color of your teeth, keep in mind that dark or
discolored teeth may suggest an aged mouth. A well-shaped smile
comprised of bright, white teeth lends to a youthful appearance.
The shade your dentist selects for teeth whitening and veneers
is carefully evaluated with special consideration given to the
tone and color of your face and hair. Cosmetic dentists are
skilled at finding the right balance between providing you with
a brighter, whiter smile and maintaining a natural tooth color.
Alignment and Spacing: Teeth that are
crooked, overlapping or have gaps between them can be
straightened and aligned when necessary through orthodontics or
Invisalign and improved with veneers.
Missing Teeth: One or more missing teeth can
negatively affect the appearance of your smile as well as
affect your bite and increase your risk for tooth decay making
replacement an integral part of oral health and facial
esthetics. Missing teeth can be replaced by dental implants,
bridges or partial dentures.
Harmony and Balance: Uneven, chipped and
cracked teeth can be cosmetically bonded for an improved
appearance, and a gummy smile can be re-contoured to help
improve the overall look of the smile.
Fuller Lips, Smile and Cheeks: An unshapely
or aging face can be improved or rejuvenated with certain
procedures in the smile makeover category, including
orthodontics and/or oral maxillofacial surgery. Cosmetic dentist
will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan designed
to achieve exactly what you want from your makeover. This
treatment plan may consist of many cosmetic and functionally
restorative procedures, potentially including teeth whitening,
composite bonding, veneers, dental crowns, orthodontics
(braces), oral maxillofacial surgery and gummy smile reduction.
Esthetic Components of a Smile Makeover
In addition to the color, alignment and balance of your teeth
in the esthetic zone of your smile (the section of upper and
lower teeth that show when you smile), there are several
attributes of your teeth and smile that your cosmetic dentist
will evaluate with you when planning your smile makeover. These
include:
Tooth Length: Long teeth lend a youthful
appearance. Aging produces wear and tear that often results in
shorter teeth, and a gummy smile also can make teeth appear
shorter. A smile makeover treatment for shorter teeth may
include reshaping and lengthening the two front central teeth
with composite bonding or porcelain veneers. If you have a gummy
smile, your cosmetic dentist may provide treatment to modify the
gum line and lengthen the appearance of the teeth using laser
dentistry procedures. You may also be referred to a periodontist
for crown lengthening if necessary.
Teeth lengthening may also impact your overall facial
appearance. For example, shapely, long, square teeth on a
round-faced individual can provide a slimming effect.
Smile Line: The smile line is an imaginary
line that follows the edges of your upper teeth from side to
side, which ideally should be the same as the curve of your
lower lip when you smile. This standard point of reference for
smile makeovers may be used to help determine how long your new
teeth should be.
Tooth Proportions: Your cosmetic dentist
will examine your teeth to determine if they are in correct
proportion with each other. Most people recognize a pleasing
smile as one in which the two central front teeth are dominant
and have a width-to-length ratio of 4-to-5. This proportion
guides the length and width of other teeth in the esthetic zone
so that the smile line appears balanced.
Tooth Texture and Characterization: Cosmetic
dentists performing smile makeovers are adept at blending
functionality and esthetics. An artistic dentist can
characterize your crowns or veneers to create a more feminine or
a more masculine appearance, in addition to matching the look
and feel of natural teeth or those you've seen in photographs.
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