What Makes a Smile Beautiful? 3 Key Traits

Are you thinking of enhancing your smile with cosmetic dentistry? Before you start the process, it’s a good idea to take a step back and think about the specific changes you want to make. After all, when it comes to the appearance of your teeth, there are various aspects to think about. Here’s a closer look at 3 traits that contribute to the way your smile looks – as well as the cosmetic dental treatments that can be used to address them.

1. Tooth Color

The color of your smile can have a significant influence on the way others perceive you. If your teeth are dull or discolored, they may end up making you look older than you actually are. In contrast, people tend to associate whiter teeth with youth and good health.

If you drink a lot of coffee or other dark-colored beverages, there’s a good chance that your teeth have become stained over the years. Fortunately, with a professional teeth whitening kit, it’s possible to brighten them by six to eight shades in just two weeks.

2. Tooth Size

Do you have a tooth that seems unusually large or small compared to the others? If so, it could be throwing off the balance of your smile. Generally speaking, you want all of your teeth to look proportional to one another.

There are multiple ways that cosmetic dentistry can be used to correct the size of your teeth. For example, an unusually small tooth can often be made to look larger with a veneer or cosmetic dental bonding.

3. Gum Display

You may not think about it much, but your gums can have an impact on the overall appearance of your teeth. When you pull back your lips to smile, no more than 2 millimeters of gum tissue should be visible. If people can see more than that, you have what’s known as a gummy smile, which can cause your teeth to look smaller than they should.

If you’re bothered by excessive gum tissue, your dentist may recommend gum recontouring. This procedure simply involves removing the gum tissue that you don’t need in order to give your smile a more balanced appearance.

The traits listed above are just a few of the things you need to think about if you want your teeth to look their best. Take the time to think carefully about what you want to improve about your smile so that you can tell your dentist exactly what you want from your cosmetic dental treatment.

About the Author

Dr. Jeffrey F. Hermen has over 30 years of dental experience. He went to The OU College of Dentistry, and he has served on the board for the Oklahoma County Dental Society for over two decades. He is proud to be able to help his patients in Oklahoma City enhance their smiles with a variety of cosmetic dental treatments, including veneers, teeth whitening, and gum recontouring. If you’re interested in learning more about cosmetic dentistry, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Hermen by visiting his website or calling (405) 621-2100.