Dentistry is all about building a smile that can make you feel confident and happy. Ultimately, you are the final judge of what that kind of smile should look like.
However, if you’re looking into cosmetic dentistry soon, you might want to know what all can go into a beautiful smile. Even if you know what you want to look like, you may want to have some understanding of the technical terms for the issues you’d like to fix.
To help, here are some of the most common things people say make for a beautiful smile, and how you can go about getting them.
Tooth Color
Many people say that they would prefer to have a whiter smile. Cutting back on coffee or brushing with whitening toothpaste can help, but professional teeth whitening is a quick way to get a smile that’s up to eight shades whiter!
Maxillary Gum Line
The area where your gum touches your upper teeth is known as the maxillary gum line. Often, people want their smiles to look “straight,” and a crooked gum line can do just the opposite. Gum contouring is a cosmetic treatment that can make this line more even, and allow the gums to curve around your teeth smoothly.
Incisal Edge
This is the formal term for what you might call the “tip of your teeth,” i.e. the part that slices into food when you bite down. The “ideal smile” curves upwards from the front teeth towards the molars, smoothly and without chips. If you have chipped teeth, your dentist can make use of direct bonding to fill the gaps, or use veneers to cover them up.
Spacing
Spacing refers to the distance between your teeth; orthodontists will often try to give you a smile with very little space but that isn’t so crowded that it appears crooked. Unlike the other traits on this list, there are health reasons why you’d want a straighter smile—crowded teeth can make it harder to brush and floss, increasing your chances of contracting gum disease.
Veneers and direct bonding can cover your teeth to give you the appearance of a well-spaced smile, but braces can help move your teeth into position.
About the Author
Dr. Vy Tran has been working as a dentist for over eight years, and she feels privileged to be able to partner with her incredible dental team to help people achieve the smile of their dreams. She works hard so that her patients can actually look forward to being seen by their dentist. Dr. Tran got her doctorate from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and she continues to receive education from the internationally renowned Pankey Institute.
If you have a question about how to build a beautiful smile, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (410) 729-9090.