You Know It When You See It

This post from Stephen Ratcliff Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington is about the things that make a beautiful smile. You may not be able to say why all the different elements blend in perfect harmony, but you know it when you see it. What aspects are we talking about?

You may be surprised at how many components we consider when planning for a smile makeover.

Here are a few of the most obvious elements:

• Tooth Color: shade, brightness, uniformity
• Tooth alignment: straight or crooked?
• Tooth size and proportions: are some teeth much larger or smaller than the rest?
• Tooth spacing: is there crowding or big gaps between teeth?
• Gumline margins: how much gum shows when you smile?

Here are some other critical elements that may be less familiar to the layperson:

• The portions of the teeth that are visible when the mouth is at rest
• The relationship of the smile line and the lip line
• Zenith points: the highest point of the gumline in relation to the center of the tooth
• Midline placement: the smile should be centered in the middle of the lips, mouth, and face
• Mesial inclination: the tops of the teeth should angle slightly away from the midline

If vital design principles are not adhered to, the smile may look “off” or the function of the teeth and jaw could be adversely affected. For example, a smile redesign handled by an inexperienced cosmetic dentist could change the patient’s bite and put unnecessary stress on the restorations.

At Stephen Ratcliff Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington, we transform smiles with cosmetic dentistry every day. We also offer general dentistry services. Schedule an appointment with us today.