What brings a Real Smile on your face?
Your Dentist. Let us first undertake a self-assessment and study our own smiles before delving into the complexities of what a smile is. Open your phone, get the front camera out and click a photo with a wide smile and a gleaming eye. Don’t think about how good the pose is. Just the image should be clear.
Now, think about what you felt while clicking the selfie and what you feel while viewing your own face on your phone. Let’s do a quick test.
If any of your answers were ‘NO’ then it is a good idea to consult your dentist for a solution. Let’s look at how does a dentist analyze your smile and what are the factors involved in a complete facial smile analysis. After which, we shall also understand the different options for correcting the discrepancies and maintaining them for a long and happy health.
Real analysis of your Smile from the eyes of a Dentist.
Is the smile only related to your teeth?
No, in fact a research tool developed by Dr Erkman suggests that around 43 muscles required to produce a genuine smile on the face. A smile transmitted not only consciously but also subconsciously. Subtle differences in the muscles can communicate the authenticity of a smile. A smile with perfect teeth but vacant expression in the eye deemed as fake.
From an evolutionary standpoint, humans have always been attracted to smile. This is because a smiley face indicates good health, both physically and mentally. Smiling with discrepancies such as yellow or black teeth, or missing teeth gives a subconscious indicator of ill-health. It is therefore seen that persons with genuine smile and persons who can make people laugh are usually the most successful in public communication skills.
A maxillofacial dental surgeon trained to analyze your face and smile. Many people erroneously believe that all of their facial defects lie with the smile. But in fact, it can be present elsewhere. In these cases, a surgeon trained to analyse your face may be able to guide you better.
As a matter of fact, due to the digital revolution, we are communicating more and more through video calls. And the other non-verbal cues of the posture, dressing and physique considered less and less important. The only non-verbal communication is the body from shoulder up. A study by Dr Mehrabian concludes that, around 93% of all communication is through this non-verbal or non-vocal means. A happy and healthy smile would therefore be as important as the words you speak when trying to communicate.
Let’s divide the smile analysis in macro and micro elements:
Macro elements are the gross features which our conscious mind can perceive and any deviation in these would give an appearance of asymmetry in the smile or face.
- The inter-pupillary line and the smile line should be parallel.
- Midline of the face and midline of teeth should coincide.
- The amount of teeth edges seen for a 30 year old upper teeth; should be visible with minimal to no visibility of lower teeth. Whereas for a 60-year-old it is exactly the reverse.
- The position of the chin with respect to the face.
- Lisping or difficulty in pronunciation of certain sounds are ‘ph’, ‘s’, ‘rr’
- The position of the nose tip with respect to the face.
Micro elements are the finer subtler aspects of the face and teeth and a deviation in them is perceived as ‘something off’ without actually pinpointing the problem.
- Position of the edge of the incisors
- Height of the gum contour
- The tilt of the tooth
- Proportions of the tooth
- The curvature of the tooth
- Texture and colour of the tooth
FAQ’s asked by Patient to the Dentist for a Real Smile:
Why are you asking for my opinion for the cosmetic result? You to be an expert!
Esthetic is subjective; therefore, it is the vision of the patient which the cosmetic surgeon is trying to achieve. The cosmetic dentist has some scope to make changes to the aesthetics by making use of the knowledge of micro elements.
Why are you taking so many pictures?
Medical professions are called to be in ‘practice’, and there is a very good reason for that. There is constant learning from every case and therefore, it is important for the cosmetic dentist to document every case. Also, the pictures help in exact communication between the technician and other doctors.
How many appointments will it take?
Cosmetic treatments should take about a few hours to up to a few days. Royal Dental Clinics Mumbai, specializes in providing same day cosmetic treatment.
How much of the tooth is shaved? Will it damage my natural teeth?
First natural tooth is shaved to appear in a more aligned and cosmetic position. After which a generalized reduction is done to the tooth surface. This allows for the dental crown or cap to be placed.
Isn’t braces or invisible braces a better option?
This is a big debate as to which technique is better. All cosmetic treatments and procedures have separate needs and therefore it is important as a clinician to understand these differences.
A young patient in 20’s who has a perfect tooth space but the teeth have gaps, would be a great candidate for orthodontic treatment. Though, in case the need of the patient is urgent, then a cosmetic treatment can be done in one day. Braces treatment will not alter the shape of the tooth, therefore in cases where the tooth shape needs to be altered orthodontic treatment may not help.
Is real smile all about number and proportion? Isn’t the patient’s emotion of any importance?
This is one of the most important aspects when treating or planning a case. Sometimes, a patient is persistent on a whiter tooth or a yellower one.
Natural teeth not only helps to chew, but also forms a very important part of our appearance. Therefore, whenever a smile designing or any dental restoration is planned, an appropriate aesthetics is the final aim. But it should be borne in mind that the aesthetics cannot supersede the function or occlusal balance. The balance and the functional aspects dictate the terms of the aesthetics. In fact, in the jaw also, the golden ratios are seen and therefore, balancing the function is as important as balancing the aesthetics.
Then considering the balancing of the jaw it is important to consider the whole face with the body physique and personality. A very soft-spoken person in the field of humanities with a sharp and long canine would look like a misfit. Similarly, an actress who plays a negative role in theater and has a small rounded canine would look like a misfit. It is not only the shape of the tooth but every feature of the tooth, jaw, and face that determines the balance of the face.
With your smile analysis, you would not be in a position to decide whether a consultation is needed or not. If you feel a consultation is required then visit your specialist dentist.
Cosmetic Dentistry vs Braces
Once we’ve determined that a smile correction is what you desire, the next question on your mind is what treatment you’ll need. Along with this all the fears of pain and final result keeps your mind occupied. This involves knowledge of multi -specialty dentistry.
“Balance the bite of the patient and you shall achieve 80% of the aesthetics, 15% of aesthetics is the anatomy of the individual tooth itself, and 5% is the acceptance by the patient.”
Dr. Arun Chamria
Treatment with braces involves physical movement of the tooth into the desired position. This often involves extraction of a few natural teeth to create space. As there is a physical movement involved, the bone has to resorb and readapt to the new position of the teeth. This process is slow.
Get The Real Smile
In dentistry there are two major options for treatment in smile correction – Braces and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Braces or Orthodontics works on the physical movement of teeth into the desired place by pushing or pulling them through the bone.
Cosmetic Dentistry is one of the ways by which we can have our desired smile. It involved no physical tooth movement but sculpting (gentle reshaping of teeth), bonding (addition of resin within the mouth which are glued to the teeth), crowns or cap (they are sculpted in a lab outside the mouth and cover the natural tooth on all four sides. This can be accomplished quickly and with little discomfort.
Conclusion
Just remember, if you are busy or don’t want to wait for long to get your natural smile then make an appointment and get the teeth you desire for with cosmetic dentistry.
In conclusion, the ultimate goal of your cosmetic dental treatment at Royal Dental Clinics is to improve the way your smile looks. It is a known fact that good looking teeth and good oral health go hand in hand. In addition, that’s why the team of award winning Dentists at Royal Dental Clinics use the most advanced technology in tandem with over 3 decades of experience to provide you the Real Smile that you deserve.
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Royal Dental Clinics is to improve the way your smile looks. It is a known fact that good looking teeth and good oral health go hand in hand. and All treatment in one day.