Cosmetic dentistry is an art, a science that focuses on dental aesthetics and improves the colour, shape, position, size and over all smile appearance. Any dental work that improves the appearance of teeth, gums or bite, even a full mouth reconstruction are also considered cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic dentistry has evolved over many years to become a specialized field on its own. This is because our patients do not want to be told what they need but rather would like to have options and choices when it comes to how they look and feel. This is not only true in dentistry but also in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The first thing people notice when meeting you is your eyes, nose, and mouth and in particular your smile. These three facets of the face are particularly important when it comes to “natural beauty” and youthfulness. A natural flow and symmetry between the 3 facets are important. This flow and symmetry are also particularly important when it comes to looking self-confident, honest or trustworthy. This could be particularly important if you are having a job interview or interested in finding that “perfect” life partner, for example.
Having a smile which is in sync with nature makes all the difference. At the Silver Oaks Dental Clinic, we are passionate about creating perfect smiles because we have seen how it changes people’s lives. We believe that longevity and strength is as important as aesthetics.
While cosmetic dentistry has been around since the 1800s, it is more common than ever today, and people of all genders, races and ages decide to get cosmetic dental work performed for a variety of reasons.
This is a process of improving the appearance of the smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures…
How does a Cosmetic Dentist design your smile?
There are many facets to designing the “perfect smile.”
However, not everyone wants the “perfect smile.” For some people, a more “natural smile” is required. Every individual has their own desires and needs and we as cosmetic dentists must be aware of those needs.
For this reason, we at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic get our patients to fill out a “Smile Assessment Form” which gives you the opportunity to think about what truly bothers you about your smile and what you would like to change about it. That way we can focus on what your needs are and not just what we think you should look like. It is a very personal and bespoke way of dealing with your cosmetic requirements.
We as cosmetic dentists consider the following four principles when planning your Digital Smile Design –
Facial Aesthetics
Facial and muscular considerations vary from patient to patient and are studied through visual and photographic analysis. They include how the lips frame your smile when you speak, smile, or laugh.
Gingival (Gum) Aesthetics
The health and appearance of your gums are essential elements in smile design. Excessive gingival display (“gummy smiles”), uneven gum contours, inflammation and exposed root surfaces are common gingival-based aesthetic complaints that detract from your smile’s appeal.
Micro aesthetics
This involves the subtle characteristics that make your teeth look the way they do, such as how they reflect light and unique marks or colorations. The ideal restoration is one with qualities closely resembling those of natural teeth. The anatomy of natural teeth is unique from person-to-person and specific to each tooth.
Macro aesthetics
This analyses the relationships and proportions between front teeth, surrounding tissue landmarks and facial characteristics, to ensure natural and attractive restorative care and smile makeover treatment. Working in collaboration, your cosmetic dentist and dental laboratory technician combine their technical and artistic abilities to create a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance in which the shapes, sizes and arrangement of individual teeth blend with and complement your features.
The “ideal” smile also must take into account individual considerations such as facial features, skin tone, hair colour, and how the size, colour and condition of your teeth, as well as gum tissue and lips, fit in with your overall physical appearance.
The artistic component of dentistry – especially for cosmetic dentistry only comes with experience and sticking to the rules, tools and strategies of Digital Smile Design. With today’s modern technology, such as Digital Smile Design, Lasers, teeth whitening procedures and the like, we can create smile design makeovers with procedures and techniques that range from minimally invasive whitening and composite bonding, to porcelain veneers, crowns and dental implants. Additionally, they can use soft tissue augmentation via dermal filling agents to correct facial aspects such as thin lips and asymmetrical facial appearances to increase a smile’s attractiveness.
