SMILES… AND SMILE DESIGNING…

If I knew the box where the smiles are kept;
No matter how large the key
Or strong the bolt, I would try so hard
‘Twould open, I know, for me;
Then over the land and the sea broadcast,
I’d scatter the smiles to play,
That the children’s faces might hold them fast
For many and many a day.

If I knew a box that was large enough
To hold all the frowns I meet,
I would like to gather everyone,
From nursery, school and street;
Then folding and holding, I’d pack them in
And turning the monster key,
I’d hire a giant to drop the box
To the depths of the deep, deep sea.

It takes 28 muscles to frown but only 17 muscles to smile …

Importance of a charming and confident smile

A smile can enrich our own lives and the lives of people with whom we interact. It is the most natural and most effective exercise for the face. The secret for success and popularity in life is a warm, intimate smile, which breaks the hardest attitudes and evokes the most immediate response.

Everyone knows the importance of a smile. Smiles are instinctive, a universal sign of friendliness that even newborns recognize. An attractive smile goes a long way in getting you what you land a job, and find love. Yet too often, our teeth deny us the benefits of a beautiful smile. They ruin our looks through discoloration, overlapping, crowding, gaps and chips. Fortunately, through cosmetic dentistry and orthognathic surgery (dento-facial esthetic surgery), all of these problems can be fixed.

Smile analysis

In order to beautify a smile, it has to be first recorded, and then, assessed and analyzed.

* In a slight smile with your teeth parted, do the tips of your teeth show?
* When you smile slightly does your smile line appear in a shallow U-Shape i.e. are your front
two teeth slightly longer than your other teeth ?
* Do you have spaces between your front teeth?
* Do your front teeth protrude or stick out?
* Are your front teeth crowded or overlapping?
* Are you happy with the color of your teeth? Do you have stains on you teeth ?
* Do your front teeth have fillings whose shade does not match the natural tooth color?
* Do your front teeth look abnormal in shape or size?
* Do the necks of your teeth indicate erosion or ditched in 'V' that can be seen or felt with your
finger nails?
* Are your gums pink and 'knife edged' or are they red and swollen?
* Is your mouth free of decay or gum disease that can cause bad breath?
* Do you find it difficult to close your lips in rest position?
* Do you have a “gummy” smile?
* Do you have inability to bite into foodstuffs and chew them properly?

If you think you have any of the above-mentioned findings, it would be better for you to consult a dental professional. He will be able to assist you to achieve a wonderful smile, which you desire.

According to a recent survey by the American Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry,
  • Nine out of ten adults consider an attractive smile to be an important social asset.
  • Eight out of ten believe that an unattractive smile makes a person less appealing to the opposite sex.
  • Three-fourths suspect that an unattractive smile can negatively impact their career opportunities.
  • Nearly half said they would like to make some improvement in the appearance of their smile.

Smile Designing

Smile designing procedures are essential for smiles that are defective, unappealing or ugly. The defects may lie in the color or shape of the teeth. Defects or excessive visibility of the supporting gums can also contribute to ugly smiles. Defective alignment of teeth & / or defective shapes of the jaws (eg. Protruded or retruded jaw contours etc.) are other factors contributing to un-esthetic smiles. Therefore, smile designing procedures encompass a wide area of treatment procedures ranging from basic cosmetic dentistry procedures to highly complex surgeries on the facial skeleton to correct jaw deformities.

The smile designing procedures can be classified under the following categories:

1. Basic cosmetic dental procedures – scaling & oral prophylaxis, tooth whitening, tooth-colored restorative procedures, dental bonding, veneers and dental jewelry.
2. Periodontal procedures – management of gingivitis and periodontitis, gingival contouring, gingival de-pigmentation and surgical management of “gummy smiles”.
3. Orthodontic procedures – to correct irregularity and mal-alignment of teeth
4. Crown and bridge & Implant procedures – to replace missing teeth
5. Dentofacial Esthetic Surgery procedures – to correct the abnormal size / shape / positioning of jaws in order to achieve a good balance in facial proportions.