Have you ever thought of designing your smile? Do you wish to find out what your smile would look like prior to undergoing dental treatment? This is possible. The technology is called Dental Smile Design. Smile design is the 3-dimensional positioning of your teeth according to your face, in harmony with your physical and emotional features. Using this computer software, patients are able to pre-visualise their smile prior to undergoing their dental makeover. 

Clinical Factors used to plan your new smile

• Midline
• Occlusal or biting plane
• Smile curve
• Buccal corridor or space between your teeth and cheek
• Lip support
• Facial profile

Other Patient factors

• Motivation
• Education
• Expectations
• Questionnaire ex what do you like and dislike about your smile? What is a beautiful smile for you?

Tools

• Intra/extra-oral Photographs
• Video close-up of mouth and another of full face
• Video of patient chewing
• Computer software

During the first consultation, a detailed questionnaire is filled in. The dentist and potential patient have a casual chat about what the patients' wishes are. This is followed by a series of specific photographs and videos. The photographs are loaded onto the software and calibrated to the subject. A simple measure of the width of the two front teeth of the patient is taken with the use of callipers. This measure averages 14-16mm. This measure is transferred to the photographs and once calibrated the images may begin to be modified. Teeth may be rotated, cropped, cut, stretched and coloured according to the chosen and planned smile design. Gums may also be modified to cover exposed root areas, fill concavities in the jaw or made to look normal. 

Interdisciplinary approach

• Patient
• Cosmetic dentist
• Dental technician
• Specialist treatment from an orthodontist, periodontist, surgeon etc.

Once these modifications are completed the patient may be able to view his/her teeth prior to giving consent to the initiation of their treatment; the patient can see photos of their smile before they undergo any treatment, all with just a couple of photos!

It is of utmost importance that the dentist, patient and dental technician liaise closely to achieve what the patient desires. Communication is key to success. For finer details on how this is possible ask your dentist!

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