Analyze your smile
Take this simple quiz to know if you are a candidate for cosmetic dentistry:
In a slight smile with your teeth parted, do the tips of your teeth show?
Your teeth should show slightly when you smile slightly or talk
When you smile slightly does your smile line appear in a shallow U-Shape i.e. areyour front two teeth slightly longer than your other teeth?
Your smile line is a youthful smile line if it is as mentioned above. Your front two teeth i.e. the central incisors should be slightly longer than the adjacent incisors. Next the canine or corner teeth should be V-Shaped and of the same length as the central incisor.
Are your front two teeth too long?
The front teeth should be about 2mm longer than the adjacent lateral incisors. They are too long if they are longer than this.
Do you have spaces between your front teeth?
If you have spacing or diastema between your front teeth, have it checked, particularly if it hasn’t always been there. Such spaces can grow larger, indicating a physical problem such as gum disease or a bad habits such as tongue thrusting. If no such problem exists and you don’t like the space, it can be closed with bonding or laminating / veneering procedure or orthodontic appliances depending upon the size of the space.
Do your front teeth protrude or stick out?
Protrusion of teeth causes an unappealing smile. This problem can be corrected with cosmetic contouring combined with laminating procedures.
Are your front teeth crowded or overlapping?
If yes it can be corrected either by orthodontics repositioning or cosmetic contouring and veneering.
Are you happy with the color of your teeth? Do you have stains on your teeth?
If yes, your smile could be made attractive. Stains may be gotten rid of by bleaching, when they are on the external surface. Intrinsic stains can be corrected by veneering or capping
Do your front teeth have fillings whose shade does not match the natural tooth color?
Tooth colored fillings in the front teeth that matched perfectly when they were placed may not look as good after a few years. Certain food can stain these fillings as can habits like smoking and drinking coffee and tea. You may need more frequent professional cleaning or replacement.
Are your lower six front teeth even in appearance?
Uneven lower teeth with one or more teeth longer than others can be a distraction when you speak. Through cosmetic contouring, the teeth can often be reshaped to appear even.
Do the necks of your teeth indicate erosion or ditched in ‘V’ that can be seen or felt with your finger nails?
These deformities can progress rapidly, resulting in tooth discoloration and sensitivity. However they usually can be corrected easily and esthetically with composite resin bonding. The primary advantage, however is that such tooth repair prevents further erosion and possible damage to the nerve.
Is your mouth free from decay or gum disease that can cause bad breath?
If not, you need to see your dentist and also brush and floss regularly.
Do I have a masculine or feminine smile?
Feminine type smile There is no anthropological basis for masculinity or femininity in teeth. However, we tend to think of teeth that are nicely curved as softening the smile and we perceive this as a more feminine look. Note, also, the slight openings at the biting edges between the teeth. These are called incisal embrasures and help make the teeth look distinct instead of joined together.
Masculine type smile
This is a fine example of a masculine smile with a medium lip line. The teeth are more angular, and the central incisors provide a bolder or stronger look in relation to the lateral incisors. They are squarer, less rounded, and slightly more textured than in the above photograph. A more youthful smile line is created when the central incisors are slightly darker than the other teeth due to the thickness of the teeth.
