In cosmetic dentistry, a smile makeover is a process of improving the appearance of the smile by way of one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures. These can include such processes as dental veneers, composite bonding, dental implants, teeth whitening, and more.
From an aesthetic point of view, a good cosmetic dentist is someone who is way different from a general dentist. He is someone with a passion for aesthetics and creating beautiful smiles though the practice of his science-based profession.
Considerations
A cosmetic dentist about to embark on a smile makeover to a patient takes into consideration several factors that constitute a person’s total smile: facial appearance, skin tone, hair color, teeth (color, width, length, and shape), gum tissue, and lips.
Your dentist would also ask you some questions like “what is it you like or dislike in your smile or teeth?” There is also a list of things your dentist will discuss with you in regard with your smile makeover.
Tooth color
It is an important consideration because bright, white teeth framed in a well-shaped smile give out a youthful appearance. Dark or discolored teeth suggest an aged mouth.
Color is the top consideration when evaluating procedures and materials including porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, implants and composite bonding. Your cosmetic dentist recommends the right shades in tandem with your facial skin tones and hair shadings.
Shapes, spaces, alignments
Crooked teeth, overlapping teeth, gaps in-between teeth and other imperfections are carefully evaluated for corrective procedures. In extreme cases, they are corrected through orthodontics or Invisalign, and improved with veneers.
Missing teeth, uneven or cracked teeth are noted. Missing teeth are replaced with implants, bridges or partial dentures. Cracked and uneven teeth are bonded.
An unshapely or ageing face can be improved and rejuvenated with certain procedures in smile makeovers. This can include, in extreme cases, such processes as orthodontics and maybe oral maxillofacial surgery.
A long face might need an accent to make it appear more oval. Someone with an attractive feature in the center of the face might need bold central incisors to draw attention to that center.
Length, proportions, textures
The length of the teeth affects the overall facial appearance. Shapely, long square teeth on a round face can provide a slimming effect.
A pleasing smile is one where the two central front teeth are dominant and have a width-to-length ratio of 4:5. This proportion is the yardstick of the length and width of all the other teeth.
Your cosmetic dentist can characterize your crowns and veneers to create a more feminine or a more masculine appearance, matching the look and feel of the other natural teeth.
Teeth life
Cosmetic dentistry procedures need regular oral hygiene care and require maintenance over time. Teeth whitening must be repeated on occasion to maintain brightness. Crowns and veneers may break off and need replacements.
The ceramist, lab technician and the materials chosen by your dentist also affect the longevity of your smile makeover.
As one dentist-writer puts it, cosmetic dentistry is a “self-esteem service”. If the results fail to impress the patient, the treatment is a failure. So you will be pleased, you need to have your own inputs, too, in the artistic planning of your smile.