The Artist’s Approach Smile Design At Its Best BY DAVID FINLEY, D.D.S.
A
BEFORE
AFTER
N ARTIST MUST BE ABLE TO IMAGINE AND VISUALIZE
his finished work of art in his mind as it will appear on the canvas. A dentist must also be able to do the same thing to design and create as beautiful a smile as possible for his patient. The dentist's ultimate cosmetic objective is to create a beautiful smile, not just beautiful teeth. However, creating a beautiful smile requires the evaluation and analysis of the smile, lips and gingival tissues in addition to the teeth. Successful creation of a beautiful smile requires artistic skills as well as technical skills. Artistic skills involve training the eye to see the smile's unseen or overlooked aspects and improving them to make the smile appear even better, cosmetic dentists artistically analyze the relationships of the teeth, gums, lips and facial tones of the patient. From this analysis, they are able to create balance and symmetry between the structures that make up the smile.
TREATMENT OPTIONS People with stained or dull teeth will benefit from professional whitening. In-office and supervised at home whitening systems are available. People with chipped, cracked or worn teeth can consider either veneers or bonding. Long-lasting veneers are ultra-thin, specially-made laminates that are bonded to the teeth. Bonding is a process in which enamel-like material is applied to a tooth's surface, sculpted to an ideal shape, hardened and then polished for an improved smile. Veneers are stronger and have a longer life than bonding. Crowns and bridges are best for correcting major functional or structural problems with individual teeth, missing teeth or general bite dysfunction. Implants are being used to successfully replace teeth for people in all age groups - with esthetic and predictable results. The latest porcelain technology allows us to replace missing teeth or crown teeth in a way so that no one can tell the replacements are not real. Whatever your individual problem, a qualified experienced dentist can select the right cosmetic treatment to enhance your smile. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | DECEMBER 2015
131