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Dr. Neil Speight, MD
Center for Wellness
Mathews, NC Board Certified
Paul Plascyk, DDS, General Dentist Charlotte NC
NC Cosmetic Charlotte Implant
Cosmetic Dentist Porcelain Veneer Charlotte NC Implant
Smile Design, Dentist Charlotte NC
As a dentist performing cosmetic therapy in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Plascyk understands proper cosmetic smile design. Dr. Plascyk will assess the teeth, bite, and appearance before creating a new cosmetic smile design. Any number of cosmetic procedures may be recommended to reshape, brighten, straighten, or otherwise visually improve the cosmetic appearance of the teeth. The following are some basic concepts that Dr. Plascyk uses to determine the best appearance for cosmetic porcelain veneers, cosmetic porcelain crowns and other cosmetic procedures. Dr. Plascyk has improve the smile of many Charlotte, NC area patients with these cosmetic concepts.
The Golden Proportion: The Golden Proportion is a ratio of 1.618. Oftentimes, when we view attractive things in nature, art and architecture, this ratio is involved. When we design a smile for a patient, we would like to incorporate this ratio if possible. One example of the use of the Golden Proportion is in the relationship of the widths of the upper front teeth. If a value of 1 is given to the visual width of the upper right lateral incisor, the visual width of the upper right central incisor should be 1.618 times greater. The visual width of the upper right canine tooth behind the lateral incisor should to be 1.618 times smaller than the lateral incisor (or .618 the size of the lateral incisor). The Golden Proportion can also be seen in the relationship of teeth to the nose, chin and other parts of the mouth and face.
Symmetry: We would like the right side of the mouth to look the same as the left side of the mouth. If we draw a vertical line between the upper two central incisors, the left side of the smile would look the same as the right side if it were perfectly symmetrical. This not only includes the teeth, but also the gum tissue at the necks of the teeth. Showing a lot of gum tissue when you smile is not unattractive as long as it is symmetrical.
Incisal edge position: The edges of the upper teeth should just lie on the wet line of the lower lip and follow the curve of the lower lip when the patient gives a relaxed, gentle smile. The incisal edge of the canine teeth and the central incisors should be at the same level. The incisal edge of the lateral incisor should be slightly higher than the edges of these teeth.
The upper gum line: should follow the curve of the upper lip when the patient smiles. (Not everyone shows the gum line when they smile.)
Shape of the central incisors: The width of the central incisor should be 80% of its length.
Percent of tooth structure that should show when you smile: In a young person, the teeth should take up about 80% of the space between the lips during a full smile. This percent decreases as we age because the teeth wear and the soft tissue of the face droops.
Incisal edge shape: The shape of the incisal edge of the upper teeth is important. As a general rule, square and sharp edges are considered more masculine, while curved edges are softer and more feminine. Curved incisal edges are also considered more youthful looking.
Negative space: This is the dark space seen between the back teeth and the inside of the cheeks when a patient smiles. As a general rule, we want to eliminate this space as much as possible by widening the outside surface of the back teeth.
Surface contours: The surface of the teeth can be changed so that they reflect light in different ways. A tooth can look wider, shorter or brighter just by changing the contours of the cosmetic porcelain veneer, crown or natural tooth structure.
Gum line around teeth: Ideally, the gum line of the canine tooth and the central incisor should be at the same level. The gum line of the lateral incisor should be slightly lower than these teeth.
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