What's in a smile? A lover would tell you stories of stars and beauty, a dentist would talk of architectural concepts, and both would speak passionately. But what makes a smile beautiful? Is it just the act of smiling or is there a certain smile-anatomy that when achieved, makes the perfect smile?
A cosmetic dentist is an artist in a number of ways. While many people have real issues with their smile such as crooked, stained, chipped, or rotting teeth, many are simply looking for a way to improve their smile.
Placing your mouth in the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist can be the best thing you've ever done for your appearance. Given that smiling can influence countless aspects of your life, it can be the best thing you've done for your career, love life, etc.
There is much more to a smile than perfect teeth. Your face and the shape of your mouth play a huge role in the appearance of your smile and shaping your teeth to fit that shape is the most important part of constructing a smile.
Line Ratio and the Attractiveness of a Smile
Are you familiar with the waist-to-hip ratio in women? It simply means that a 0.7 ratio, or 10 inch/ 30cm difference between the waist and hips is rated as considerably more attractive than measurements outside those limits. It has also established the 'hourglass' figure as the most coveted female shape.
In terms of your smile, there is a rule that determines the attractivenessof a smile (at least in terms of orthodontics), and it is called the 'Smile Line Ratio'. This rule states that a smile displaying a ratio of 1.00 to 1.25, or basically symmetry between the lip arcs. In every mathematical determination of beauty, symmetry always scores highest. Now this does not mean that if your smile isn't perfectly symmetrical, it isn't attractive (there are some crooked smiles that are just amazingly charming), it just means that nature prefers simplicity and symmetry is simple.
Upper Lip Curvature
As far as lip shape goes, the most attractive smile is considered to occur when the corners of your lips curve upward past the midline of you upper lip.
Although the last two 'rules' of the perfect smile have to do mainly with the lips, cosmetic dentists are able to shape your teeth to create an illusion of perfection by determining the amount of teeth-to-gum displayed while you smile. This determines the inside shape of your smile and can make a huge difference in your general appearance.
If you are thinking about improving your smile by having some dental work done, get the best from your experience by consulting with a professional cosmetic dentist. A professional can determine the size and shape your teeth should have to maximize their appearance according to your unique face shape.
A professional who takes his art seriously can make your smile a masterpiece.
CITATION
1. Hulsey, Charles M. "An esthetic evaluation of lip-teeth relationships present in the smile." American journal of orthodontics 57.2 (1970): 132-144.
