The Art and Science of Smile Design
You are no doubt familiar with the term “cosmetic dentistry”. It appears in popular magazine articles and ads for dental products and services. What most people do not know is that the term “cosmetic dentistry” refers to a concept, not a licensed specialty. Quality modern dentistry is cosmetic. Tooth colored fillings can routinely be done so that they are virtually invisible. Dental ceramics have improved so greatly in recent years that crowns (caps) even on front teeth are not detectable. Dental implants look as though they grew out of the gum. Spaces left from missing teeth can be restored with natural looking bridges and dentures. Healthy gums are more attractive than swollen red diseased gums.The goal of the modern dentist is to prevent disease, diagnose diseases of not only the teeth and supporting structures, but the entire head and neck region, eliminate sources of pain and infection, and restore form and function. With technical skill and the use of state of the art dental materials a more beautiful smile is achieved by providing quality basic dentistry. Beyond the basics, there is an analysis that takes the diagnostic step to another level. That is the analysis of the face and smile to intentionally improve esthetics. This cosmetically oriented approach requires an artistic eye as well as advanced training. Dentists who develop a special focus on Cosmetic Dentistry and Dental Makeovers have training from esteemed centers like The Dawson Center, The Pankey Institute, The Center for Esthetic Dentistry, The Holbrook Group, and The Las Vegas Institute. Many of these dentists have affiliations with the Academy of General Dentistry or The Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. There is an art and science to smile design. What may surprise you is that achieving balance, a pleasing natural look, requires much more than an artistic eye. There is for example, a mathematical formula known as The Golden Proportion. The Golden Proportion was first recognized by Phedias, a Greek sculptor, for the commonality in size and shape of spirals and patterns in nature. Dr. Eddy Long discovered that the Golden Proportion applies to facial structures and teeth. The Golden Proportion is 1.618.
Obviously the Golden Proportion is not the only parameter that defines harmony and beauty; however it is one of the guides which a dentist uses to determine the amount of teeth you see when you smile and the size and shape of teeth. It also helps analyze the harmony of the skeletal structures of the face.The general dentist with a cosmetic orientation will work with various dental and medical specialists to help the patient achieve a more beautiful facial appearance and smile. The maxillofacial surgeon, the periodontist and the orthodontist are certainly “cosmetic dentists” as well. If your goal is to achieve a more attractive smile, have a discussion with your dentist or perspective dentist about their post-graduate training and areas of interest. Some of us enjoy the art and science of cosmetic dentistry more than others. Personally I find this aspect of my practice most rewarding. What could be better than helping a patient achieve a more beautiful smile and a positive self-image? I feel fortunate to practice at a time when I have access to so many materials and techniques that allow me to get the results I desire.
Obviously the Golden Proportion is not the only parameter that defines harmony and beauty; however it is one of the guides which a dentist uses to determine the amount of teeth you see when you smile and the size and shape of teeth. It also helps analyze the harmony of the skeletal structures of the face.The general dentist with a cosmetic orientation will work with various dental and medical specialists to help the patient achieve a more beautiful facial appearance and smile. The maxillofacial surgeon, the periodontist and the orthodontist are certainly “cosmetic dentists” as well. If your goal is to achieve a more attractive smile, have a discussion with your dentist or perspective dentist about their post-graduate training and areas of interest. Some of us enjoy the art and science of cosmetic dentistry more than others. Personally I find this aspect of my practice most rewarding. What could be better than helping a patient achieve a more beautiful smile and a positive self-image? I feel fortunate to practice at a time when I have access to so many materials and techniques that allow me to get the results I desire.
