What are the Common Traits of a Beautiful Smile?

The Common Traits Of A Beautiful Smile

Considerable Research Has Gone Into The Aesthetic Analysis Of What Makes A Beautiful, Aesthetic, Smile.  What Constitutes A Beautiful Smile Are The Traits That Most People Agree Are Aesthetically Pleasing.  Dentists Can Assist Patients In Achieving The Smile They Want By Knowing These Traits And The Options And Methods Of Treatment. Common Traits Of Beautiful Smiles And Options For Enhancements Are Discussed Below.

Light Teeth Are Considered More Youthful And Beautiful.  Dark Teeth Are Considered Old Or Damaged.  Teeth Can Appear Dark Due Stain, Natural Coloration, Trauma And Angulation.  Sometimes Simple Teeth Whitening Treatment Is All That Is Needed To Enhance A Smile.  However, Damaged Or Poorly Positioned Teeth Will Need Other Treatment Options.  Not Everyone Has The Same Idea Of How White Is White Enough, For Some A Minor Bump In Brightness Is All That Is Needed To Make A Big Difference, But Other Brightness Outcomes Are Possible.

The Amount Of Gum That Shows Above The Upper Teeth Is An Aesthetic Factor. Research Shows That There Are Differences In Male And Female Smiles, With Female Smiles Typically Showing More Gums Than Males.  However, If Too Much Gum Shows It Is Often Called A “Gummy Smile” And If Too Little Shows It Gives An Appearance Of Older Age.  There Is A Range Of Pleasing Gum Exposure In Aesthetic Smiles, Which Vary For Men And Women And By Age.  Lip Length, Mobility Of The Lip When Smiling, And Other Factors Need To Be Analyzed When Evaluating The Smile And Options For Change.

How Much Tooth Shows When Lips Are Relaxed And Slightly Open Is An Often Cited Aesthetic.  If Too Much Tooth Shows It Looks “Toothy,” If Too Little Tooth Shows It Looks Old Or Raises The Question If Teeth There Are Missing.  The Best Aesthetic Amount For Tooth Display At Rest Varies By Age And Sex.  Fe Males Show More Than Men And The Amount Of Tooth Display Decreases With Age For Both Men And Women.  Lip Length, Tooth Length And Other Factors Should To Be Evaluated For Good Aesthetics.

A Gap Or Dark Space Between The Lips/Cheeks And The Teeth Will Appear Dark And Unappealing.  The Width Of The Jaws And Angulation Of The Teeth Impact The Look Of A Smile.  Teeth That Are Positioned In The Face Well, Fill Out This Space So There Is Little Or No Gap, Giving A Pleasing Smile.  

Another Important Aesthetic Measurement Is Teeth Length.  Men Have Slightly Longer Upper Front Teeth Than Women.  When Teeth Appear Short They Look Old And Worn And If They Appear Long They Look “Toothy.”  Measuring The Teeth And Knowing The Appropriate Lengths Allows For Better Treatment Outcomes.  Sometimes Teeth May Be Too Short Due To Wear And/Or Too Short Because Of Gum Covering The Tooth.  Measurements And Proper Diagnosis Is Essential In Determining The Cause And Treatment

Crooked Teeth, Crowding, And Spaces Are Also Important Observations.  Crooked Teeth Throw Off The Symmetry Of The Face And Smile Due To Their Angulation.  Crowded Teeth Reflect Light Differently And From An Aesthetic Viewpoint, Adjacent Teeth Should Reflect Light Similarly.  A Tooth That Is Tipped Out Will Appear Light And A Tooth That Is Tipped In Will Appear Dark.  If One Tooth Appears Dark And The Adjacent Tooth Appears Light, Smile Symmetry Is Lost And Is Less Aesthetic.  Spaces Between Teeth Are Generally Unaesthetic Because They Create Dark Spaces In An Area Where We Expect To See Light Teeth.  However, Some People Like Spaces.  Correcting Crooked Teeth, Tooth Crowding, And Spaces Can Be Addressed After Proper Analysis And Discussion With The Patient About Various Treatment Options And Desired Outcomes.

Face Height Is Another Parameter To Consider.  Dentists Evaluate The Face Looking Straight On At The Patient From The Front And From The Side And Divide The Face Into Thirds.  The Middle And Lower Thirds Of The Face Are Generally Similar, With The Lower Third Slightly Longer.  If These Proportions Are Off They Will Affect The Beauty Of The Face And The Framing Of The Smile.  Knowing Proper Proportions And The Treatment Options To Correct Discrepancies Is Important To Discuss.

The Goal Of Aesthetic Analysis Is Not To Give Everyone The Same “Hollywood” Smile; The Goal Is To Give The Patient The Smile They Desire.  Achieving The Desired Smile Is Accomplished By Knowing The Constraints Of Treatment The Patient Is Willing To Accept And Matching That With The Expected Outcomes Of Various Treatment Options.  Once These Two Things Are Aligned, Beautiful Smiles Can Be Achieved.

Dr. Robert A. Gallegos Is A Fellow In The Academy Of General Dentistry, Visiting Faculty At Spear Education, Alumnus Of Pankey Institute, Qualified Invisalign Provider, Member Of The American Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Academy Of Dental Sleep Medicine And The American Dental Association.  Dr. Gallegos Practices Dentistry In Middleburg, VA.  Www.MiddleburgSmiles.Com

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