A patient may consider esthetic dentistry to improve a smile through small enhancements that keep in mind the patient’s natural teeth arrangement and appearance. Esthetic improvements can help patients feel less self-conscious and more confident in their smiles, boosting both physical and mental health.
While these improvements are promised to maintain the most natural look, many patients do not fully understand how esthetic treatments accomplish this. Here is a breakdown of esthetic dentistry and how it specifically focuses on the natural arrangement of teeth to create a better smile.
An esthetic dentist is trained to look at a patient’s appearance in its natural form. This can mean taking into account natural teeth color or the alignment of the face. While many patients think that teeth are the main focus of dentistry, the complete look of the smile actually comes from considering how the teeth complement the gums, lips, and face, and vice versa.
A dentist can assess a patient’s face and gums, as well as smaller and larger effects within a smile. Dental professionals look to see how the muscles within the face move to create a smile, how the lips flex, and how the smile aligns with the facial structure. The arrangement of teeth may need micro or macro adjustments, such as filling a minor gap with a veneer or adding a crown on a decaying tooth. While any of these enhancements may alter a smile slightly, the dentist focuses on ensuring each treatment allows the smile to flourish naturally.
To ensure the teeth are being altered in a natural arrangement, esthetic dentistry involves the study of the mechanics of the lips, gums, midline of the face, smile line, and teeth. When these dentists suggest an improvement by realigning the teeth, they have already assessed how that realignment will affect the parameters of the main components. A patient whose eyes and nose are slightly off from the actual midline may benefit from teeth that align with the face as a whole rather than the midline itself. A dentist is trained to assess each patient’s facial components to ensure the right changes are made.
Of course, no dental treatment is complete until it has been assured that the functionality, as well as the appearance, of teeth is in order. By maintaining a wholly natural esthetic, teeth are more likely to function the same or better. The changes that are made, while improving the outward smile, should not hinder a patient’s ability to eat or bite. Signs of wear or grinding may even be fixed with minor esthetic dentistry procedures, even if the target teeth are not at the visible forefront of a person’s smile.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Aesthetics in Sterling, VA
Esthetic dentistry can help patients feel great about smiling in public without the need for enormous oral changes. Talk to a dentist to see which treatments may be right for you.
Request an appointment or call Brighter Smile Family Dentistry & Orthodontics at 703-994-4044 for an appointment in our Sterling office.
Dental esthetics is the art and science of restoring your smile. It can close gaps and make teeth more uniform in size. Orthodontic methods move teeth into alignment, especially if a tooth is missing. Dental esthetics also addresses a discolored tooth that does not match the rest. You may be wondering if dental esthetics is…
Restorative or esthetic dentistry is not the same as cosmetic dentistry. This field of dentistry brings back the normal structures of gums and teeth. It also aims to return the function of these mouth parts. It focuses on providing comfort, health, and durability to patients. It can help patients look, feel, and function better. Here…
A restored smile is the goal of your esthetic dentist. Your smile is your calling card to the world around you. Imperfections due to tooth damage, poor oral health, or other factors can have a huge impact on your self-image. Even something as small as a single missing tooth can impact how others perceive and…