Have you always wanted to improve your smile? You aren’t alone. Many people want to love what they see when they look in the mirror, but their natural tooth shape is interfering with this. If you want to improve your teeth shape, here’s what you need to know.
What Are Perfect Teeth?
Perfect teeth, or the perfect smile, is subjective. It’s different for everyone, and that’s OK. But it can be devastating when someone doesn’t think their smile is perfect. Looking in the mirror every day and not liking what you see affects your self-esteem. The good news is there are things you can do to improve your smile. Nowadays, you can improve and achieve the “perfect smile.”
Many people who dislike their smiles aren’t sure exactly what they dislike. They know something is off, but they aren’t sure how to improve their teeth.
What are some of the elements of perfect teeth?
Symmetry
Symmetry is important for teeth because it creates harmony. As humans, we visually tend to prefer to look at things that are in balance – the same on one side as on the other. If the teeth on the right side of your mouth are crooked or gapped or different from those on the left side, it creates asymmetry. Although some people like the look of asymmetry in design or art, it generally tends to be less appealing to the human eye.
A balanced smile is often less noticeable. This might seem counterintuitive, but when you look at someone with balanced teeth, you see their smile and overall face. No specific thing about their smile stands out as off-balance. Correcting even a small issue with asymmetry goes a long way in creating the perfect smile.
Symmetry also offers other functional benefits. It creates a uniform distribution of force when chewing, prevents jaw problems, makes it easier to care for teeth, and allows for proper pronunciation.
Alignment
Tooth alignment offers many of the same challenges and benefits of symmetry, but there are also additional considerations. When teeth are misaligned, even if the misalignment is the same on the left and right, it can create problems.
Alignment also affects your bite. Misalignment can give you an over- or underbite, leading to long-term dental health problems. If even a single tooth is out of place, it increases your risk of plaque and tartar buildup. Straightening crooked or misaligned teeth reduces your risk of tooth decay, eventually leading to gum disease.
Size
The size of your teeth is another consideration when crafting the perfect smile. Teeth that are too big or too small look out of place. They affect the overall harmony of your smile and your face. Bringing teeth into balance with your mouth and face can help you be happier with your smile.
Colour
The final component of a smile sculpture is colour. Yellowed or grey teeth look old and dirty. Even if your dental health is optimal, discoloured teeth appear unhealthy. Whitening your teeth, along with improving their shape, can go a long way toward building the perfect smile.
What Can You Do to Achieve Your Ideal Smile?
You have several options for correcting your smile and improving your teeth shape specifically. This includes:
- Dental veneers
- Bonding
- Crowns
- Dental implants
Each option has pros and cons, and you should speak to your dentist about which is right for you.
How Face Shape Influences Teeth Shape
Your face shape plays a role in what teeth shape will look right for you.
If you want to identify your face shape, start by measuring the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Measure along with the length of your face from hairline to chin.
Once you have these measurements, compare them to examples of different face shapes online. Chances are you’ll fit into one of the following categories:
- Oval (balanced proportions)
- Round (as wide as it is long)
- Square (strong jawline but otherwise round dimensions)
- Heart-shaped (broad forehead and narrow chin)
If you don’t seem to fit into a specific category, choose the one your dimensions are closest to. You’ll discuss your face shape with your dentist when determining which tooth shape is best for your smile.
Considerations
Once you’ve decided which avenue of tooth shape correction you wish to pursue, you’ll need to consider the cost. Although there are functional reasons for improving tooth shape, insurance often views these corrective measures as cosmetic. This means they are unlikely to cover the entire procedure cost, if any at all.
It’s also a good idea to consider the maintenance required for your chosen correction method. If you go the dental implant route, you can treat your teeth just as you would (or should have) treated your natural teeth.
However, with veneers or bonding, this isn’t necessarily the case. You’ll need to care for your teeth as you would natural teeth with daily brushing and flossing and dental checkups. But you’ll also want to take special care to avoid eating and drinking food items that stain your teeth.
With dental bonding, many dentists recommend using non-abrasive toothpaste and avoiding habits that can chip teeth, including biting hard objects and chewing on ice.
Smile sculpture, designing, and achieving your perfect smile are possible. If you’d like to learn more or are ready to get started on the path to the perfect smile, contact us for a consultation.
