Principles of Smile Design
Smile design describes the process of a dental procedure that enhances your smile by creating a straighter and white smile.
Not only this, but smile designs are used to improve your mouth’s original oral hygiene state that strengthens your existing teeth.
‘Britain’s top 100 dentists recorded a turnover of almost £1bn last year, a 22% rise since 2010’. – Guardian
This is because the UK has seen a surge in demand for cosmetic dental treatments.
So, what is considered the beauty standard for the mouth? What is the importance between the symmetry and balance between your teeth and the rest of your face?
At Smile More Dental, in order to design and create your perfect smile, it’s important for us to follow the important principles that make sure we provide you with the best and most natural smile.
1. Horizontal alignment
Here, we aim to align the smile line to make sure it is parallel to the horizontal. Ideally, we prefer this option even if the eye line does not coincide with the level.
2. Symmetry
It’s greatly important for the centreline to be symmetrical to achieve the perfect smile. Sometimes, when it is not 100% possible to achieve, we can create the illusion of symmetry.
We do this by ensuring the front two teeth and other teeth are as close as possible to the midline.
Anything further from the midline means that asymmetry will not be as noticeable.
3. Smile line
The biting edges of the top two teeth connect to the smile line. In a perfect world, this line should match and trace the lower lip curve.
Flat smile lines have the tendency to look old and worn.
Whereas, curved smile lines tend to look more vibrant and youthful – this is why the curved smile lines are usually found more in women.
4. Gumline
Your gum line is connected to the highest points of your upper teeth.
The line, ideally, should again trace the line of your upper lip.
This will mean that your gum will receive reasonable exposure as well as giving the right amount of display of teeth.
5. Smile width – silhouettes
A smile that has an average width will show your smile from front to back.
More narrow smiles will not show the side of the teeth often and are mostly hidden from view, whereas the front teeth will take centre stage.
6. Progression of embrasures
The triangular spaces between the tips of your teeth are called embrasures. And, if you didn’t have them, then your teeth would look like little squares.
The way embrasures should work is that they are the smallest between your front two teeth and then get larger the further back they go.
7. Golden proportions
These ‘golden rules’ can be broken, but they are used more to give us a better understanding of where to start.
It is these rules that give the perfect ratio size to the ideal visible widths of the six front teeth: 1.6:1.0:0.6.
8. Tooth proportion
Each individual tooth also has an ideal proportion size and comes with its own guidelines.
The recommended width and height ratio for the two front teeth is 0.7:1.
Considering improving your smile? We’ve seen time and time again how it’s bettered our patient’s lives and confidence.
Call us on 020 7586 1210 or use the button to book your free consultation today.
