Principles Of Smile Design

By Abe Cherrick, MD

National Spine & Pain Centers

. http://www.treatingpain.com

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Principles Of Smile Design

What is beauty? Is beauty only in the eyes of the beholder, or are there some absolute values that determine our perception and understanding of beauty?

Beauty is a mystery. But when we study the beauty of nature, art or teeth we discover a common principle running throughout.

We all have a natural understanding of good proportions and we can easily agree if an object of art or a face is too long or too short or out of proportion. This common perception is the universal recognition of a pleasant proportion.

This magical connecting thread of proportion, known since antiquity, is none other than the “golden proportion.” It can be found in the pyramids and gothic cathedrals, Greek art and the works of Leonardo da Vinci. It can also be found in the rectangular proportion of our credit cards and is the major building block in today's cosmetic approach to dentistry.

What is the golden proportion? In its simplest form it is the division of a straight line into a larger and smaller part with a ratio of 1 to .618. This ratio is common in nature both geometrically and arithmetically and experiments have demonstrated that this proportion creates an aesthetic appeal independent of ethnic or civilization factors.

In dentistry, this golden proportion defines the ideal length and width of the front teeth and the relationship of the six front teeth to each other. How closely a person meets these ideal proportions is one of the factors that determines the beauty and harmony of their smile.

The width of the central incisor is in golden proportion to the width of the lateral incisor, which is in turn in golden proportion to the part of the canine that is visible from the front. Other principles of smile design include

The Smile Line

The smile line should ideally follow the curvature of the lip. A flat smile line conveys an aged and worn look. A curved smile line looks more youthful. Women tend to have more curved smile lines than men.

Gum Line

When gum lines are displayed they connect the highest point of the upper teeth. Ideally this line should follow the line of the upper lip.

Vertical Symetry

Symmetry around the center line is of great importance for a beautiful smile. Where it is not possible, the illusion of symmetry should be created. This illusion is enhanced by ensuring symmetry of the two upper front teeth and other teeth close to the midline.

Horizontal Alignment

Ideally the smile line should be aligned parallel to the horizontal. This would be preferable even when the eyes line or ear line does not coincide with this level.

We are all unique and the beauty of our smiles should reflect this. This is what makes cosmetic dentistry truly an art and an enjoyable creative challenge. The design of a beautiful and natural smile must consider many factors. Each case must be carefully planned with scientifically verified principles that will ensure success in a smile makeover.