Learn How Our Smiles Affect Us
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Learn How Our Smiles Affect Us
Thomas A. Selleck is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to general and cosmetic dentistry. He recommends (http://www.KellyHongDDS.com) as a dentist in Victorville, CA
We know a smile influences perceived attractiveness because people will size you up on what your teeth look like. This is unfortunate.
However, little information is known about how patients perceive their own smiles. Various considerations are important in determining the success of cosmetic dentistry because patients and dentists may focus on different aspects of the smile.
Various groups in a specialized study were asked to individually rank the photos in order from most appealing to least appealing. The preferred female smile showed natural teeth, a high lip line, a display of many teeth and symmetry to the smile.
The best male smiles revealed a moderate display of teeth, a moderate lip line and symmetry. The most prevalent response for an attractive smile involved a light tooth shade.
Many respondents found that a dark shade was the least attractive aspect of a smile. Another study showed that frontal and profile views are rated differently by patients.
This is important when orthodontic treatment is being considered. Many general dentists and orthodontists will consider the profile view for major orthodontic procedures, but may not always take it into account when planning for minor procedures.
This study reveals that the profile view should be carefully considered to reach an aesthetically acceptable conclusion to treatment. You should ask for a smile analysis.
Some dentists now offer a smile analysis. This examination can help you decide exactly what you’d like fixed.
Any analysis should consider tooth shade, distribution of color, defects and discoloration of the tooth structure, crowding, spacing, visible fillings or crowns, shape and size of teeth, and the amount of gum tissue shown when smiling. Once you and your dentist determine the areas of your smile you would like to improve, a treatment plan for reaching an acceptable aesthetic result can be obtained.
This plan may include tooth whitening. If you have any tooth-colored restorations in visible areas, these will need to be replaced after whitening because the tooth whitening agent will only affect natural tooth structure.
Veneers, crowns or orthodontics may be used to straighten teeth or close spaces. Bonding, veneering or crowning teeth can cover any defects or discoloration.
These procedures can also change the size and shape of teeth. Prior to a smile analysis, a thorough exam, including appropriate radiographs, should be completed to ensure that more pressing concerns, such as decay and infection, are not present.
Depending upon the results of your smile analysis, your dentist may wish to take impressions of your teeth to create study models. These models can be used to help plan treatment.
After your smile analysis is complete you can take the necessary steps to creating a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing smile. You’ll never be ashamed to smile again.
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