"Nine out of ten times, the perfect smile you see on a Hollywood celebrity's face was not 'God-given' but instead was designed by a skillful cosmetic dentist." - Ron VanWechel, DDS

Changing Tooth Size and Shape

Most people don't know that there are actually very precise specifications for an “optimum smile.” It's true. There are specific physiological and dental principles that guide a cosmetic dentist in creating the smile you've always wanted. The model against which teeth are measured for size and shape is generally referred to as the “golden proportion.” In seeking this aesthetic balance, a skilled cosmetic dentist will actually change the size and shape of a patient's teeth to better fit his or her face. In many cases, the change in the patient's appearance is so dramatic that it is described as “life changing.”

cosmetic dentistry cosmetic dentistry
BEFORE AFTER

It is the objective of the cosmetic dentist to deliver to the patient an aesthetically pleasing smile, while at the same time, restoring optimal dental form and function. In other words, to provide a total solution to the patient's problem. The first step is the process is the initial “records” exam in which the dentist gathers information about the patient's personal objectives and makes precise measurements of the patient's face, jaw and teeth.

From this important first exam, the dentist determines:

  • The present condition of your jaw and how your biting surfaces come together
  • Whether or not there is decay and if there is adequate bone and tooth structure
  • The architecture of the gums. Too much gum? Too little? Uneven gums?
  • Evaluation of the alignment of your eyes, nose and chin to determine the perfect tooth size for your facial attributes
  • Periodontal evaluation of the health of your gums and supporting bone.

BEFORE AFTER

The next step in the cosmetic process is to custom design the smile that is just right for you. The materials and techniques to be used are based on the existing conditions in your mouth and the cosmetic dentist's determination of what will be required to restore form, function and aesthetics. The advance materials employed by today's cosmetic dentists are so technique sensitive that your teeth have to be prepared specifically for the material chosen. Customization is therefore the rule rather than the exception.

A quick review of the more popular materials utilized by cosmetic dentists in some of the most advanced techniques might include:

  • Empress pressed ceramic & Lucite combination for a naturally translucent look, especially suited to front teeth
  • Optimal Pressable Ceramic (OPC), an all ceramic restoration, also well suited for front teeth
  • Procera All Ceram with a core of dense sintered aluminum oxide for added strength to span gaps for a front bridge or where teeth are positioned to receive heightened wear
  • Vita In-Ceram porcelain which is baked on a sintered aluminous core for added strength
  • Artglass, a polymer glass material that combines the benefits of porcelain with the strength of a composite and can be bonded to metal to accommodate a large expanse.
  • Belleglass HP dual cure, a polymer glass which uses heat and pressurized nitrogen for curing and enhances the surface hardness
  • Sculpture/Fibrekor, a glass polymer that can be used to replace old metal crowns and provides a very hard surface and major stain resistance
  • Cercon Zirconia, a metal-free, high precision computer aided manufacturing ( CAM ) process
  • Captek, a porcelain crown with gold lining for added strength and cosmetic appeal.

These are but a few of the “cutting edge” materials available to cosmetic dentists today. However, the finest materials will not work if the dentist's knowledge and technical skills are lacking. Successful cosmetic dentists spend years in advanced, continuing education programs to stay abreast of the newest techniques and procedures.

BEFORE AFTER

REASONS TO IMPROVE YOUR SMILE
The reasons people come to a cosmetic dentist are as varied as people themselves. The following are some of the more frequently stated reasons that patients give for wanting to enhance their smiles:

The most obvious reason, of course, is to improve your appearance. In this era of marvelous advances in dentistry, there's no longer a valid reason for anyone to live with ugly metal crowns, irregular gums, aching jaws, broken teeth, stained teeth or teeth with huge gaps. Nearly everyone can have a beautiful smile.

Another, less obvious reason is so you can chew your food better. When your teeth fit together properly, you can chew better—and when you chew better, your digestive system is able to extract the vitamins and nutrients your body needs for optimum health. If your teeth don't fit together, for whatever reason, your overall health is adversely impacted.

Another not-so-obvious reason is so you can gain relief from chronic pain. A surprising number of people suffer from pain caused by strain on the muscles of the jaw. When your teeth and your jaw structure don't compliment each other, your jaw muscles become strained, often resulting in earaches, headaches and pain in your cheeks or under your jaw. Sometimes something as small as a poorly placed crown can change the relationship of your teeth, preventing them from coming together as they should. The unpleasant result is not something you must learn to live with.

CONCLUSION
Whatever your reason for wanting to improve your smile, help is available right now. Whether you inherited your dental problems from your parents or suffered a trauma in a car accident or sports related activity. Whether you were exposed to a high fever in your childhood or had too many minerals in the water you drank. Whether you have unsightly gaps between your teeth, broken teeth or “old” dentistry that looks unnatural and metallic. Today's cosmetic dentistry can correct all of these imperfections. Just look at some of the examples of how it can work for you.

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