While we like to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and beauty is subjective, ultimately a dentist relies on science of what people generally find attractive when deciding how to design a smile. Additionally, a dentist considers if certain changes that might be esthetic are medically viable as well as if the design matches the desired outcome of the patient.

When designing a smile for a smile makeover, here are some guidelines a dentist might follow:

• Incisal plane – The cosmetic dentist will make sure that the two central top teeth are the longest appearing teeth. This means that the biting edge (or incisal edge, in medical speak) of these teeth will be lower compared to the other teeth so that the biting edge is slightly bent instead of being a straight line. This look is associated with youth since in older people these teeth might be more worn down because of wear and tear over the years.
• Interproximal contacts – The area at which a tooth comes in contact with it’s neighboring tooth is called the interproximal contact. Researchers have found that the most attractive ratio for these contacts is a 50:40:30 ratio. Meaning that length of the central incisor’s interproximal contact with its central incisor neighbor is 50% of it’s height. The lateral incisor’s ratio with the central incisor is at 40% and the canine’s ratio with the lateral incisor is 30%.
• Position of gingival zenith – The point at which the gums are furthest away from the incisal edge is actually not right in the middle of the tooth, but actually naturally to the right or left of it, depending on which side of the mouth it is on. Another thing to note is that this zenith is naturally higher on the central incisor and canine compared to the lateral incisor.
• Teeth should be showing at rest (repose) – When the lips are in a relaxed state, slightly open, the top front teeth should be slightly visible.
• The central incisors should be the right length – Central incisors longer than 12mm are seen as too long. The ratio of the incisor to its width also matters, with a width greater than 80% of the height making the teeth appear too square.

Smile makeovers can be described as science-based art. A dentists takes the scientific knowledge that’s been discovered about dentistry over the years, and combines it with the science of what people generally find esthetically pleasing about smiles and then applies their cosmetic dentistry skill to make it happen.

If you are looking for cosmetic dentist near Rockville or Olney, please schedule a cosmetic dental consultation with one of our skilled cosmetic dentists.