Perfect smile is actually imperfect

Dr Sahira Sandhu

Traditionally, beautiful smiles have been characterised by how white and symmetrical the teeth are. The celebrity smile was about symmetry and uniformity. Not any more, the new age dentistry calls for a smile that is unique to each patient, complimenting their face and natural expression.  

It should light up the face but not be so bright that it’s the only thing you see.  A perfect smile should not walk into the room before the person does. You want to enhance the facial features not overshadow them. 

Your smile is a way larger part of you than you may think. It speaks of confidence without using any words. It spreads joy for the person smiling and the person receiving the smile as well. 

There’s no such thing as ‘the perfect smile’, yet, there are many elements that you need to consider before you make any permanent changes to your smile. These include:

• Colour
• Symmetry
• Balance
• Facial harmony
• Shape

If you address these five elements, you can achieve what is called a really beautiful smile. Some will prefer to focus on colour rather than symmetry, and some will prefer to concentrate on their facial harmony. We get beautiful smiles in all shapes and sizes because everyone has their own unique perfect imperfections, and that includes celebrities as well.

Digital smile design

Smile is made up of many different components. When all parts are harmoniously working together, it makes for a brilliant and natural looking smile. Nowadays, 3D impressions are used to plan out each detail of your smile and you are able to see simulated results prior to the beginning your treatment. The term Digital Smile Design is simply referring to the visual process to plan treatment so you can see what your final smile will look like. 

Ways to improve your smile and gain more confidence 

• Get regular prophylactic cleanings, and check-ups. Unhealthy gums, and cavities cause pain and bad breath.
• If your teeth are stained or discoloured, consider a tooth whitening treatment.
• If your teeth are crooked, damaged or misshapen, there are a lot of treatment options. Porcelain veneers can make your anterior teeth look straight, symmetrical and beautiful. Orthodontic treatments are wonderful for rotated and misaligned smiles. Gum reshaping can fix a ‘gummy smile’ in less than an hour.

Dental veneers 

Dental veneers are tooth-coloured shells, custom-made to fit permanently over your natural teeth. They’re a little bit like false nails, eyelashes or hair extensions and they provide a quick fix for uneven or discoloured teeth, but they’re a serious commitment.

Smile designing is an art requiring the mastery and combination of multiple disciplines including facial aesthetics, digital planning, morphology, function and occlusion. Cosmetic dentistry is everywhere. There is no shortage of people claiming to be qualified to provide cosmetic procedures such as veneers and smile makeovers.  However, the reality is that most patients are not satisfied with the results and are growing increasingly concerned about having cosmetic procedures for fear of losing teeth or having more problems, so choose your dentist wisely as ‘perfect’ smiles aren’t perfect, imperfection is beautiful. A natural, winning smile, enhanced by art and science, is indeed the ultimate fashion statement. Unleash your smile superpower and release more endorphins by smiling more often. 

It can bring you success, health, self-esteem and it can even make you live longer because smiling always has a win-win effect.

(Dr Sandhu is a city-based prosthodontist)