Smile Components:

A smile is something that bridges the large gap between any two individuals. In fact a pretty smile can disarm the strongest of opponents in any argument. Of all the components of a smile, the teeth play a very important role in creating a perfect effect. It is not just necessary to have good perfect teeth, it is necessary for the teeth to be in harmony with the face, the lip line, the curvature of the mouth, etc.. The same size and shape of teeth in one smile would look very aesthetic, while in another, they would not. Dentistry today, has made extensive advances in material sciences to be able to alter, reorganize and reposition teeth. Tooth structure can be today added, reduced, moved, altered in terms of color and texture without any deleterious effects and make it look, feel and behave in the same fashion as natural teeth. In fact, in certain situations, the worked on teeth may be able to take on stronger forces than natural teeth.

Nature gives the human body a set of 32 teeth of which there are 28 important working teeth. The four third molars, more commonly known as the wisdom teeth can be discounted. When individuals smile, the teeth most standardly seen in what is known as the “Smile Window” These are the anterior teeth, which could mean the front six to ten teeth. These comprise of one pair of central incisors, lateral incisors, canines and two pairs of premolars. When an individual smiles, this smile window will display these teeth with the upper teeth generally covering about 2/3rd of the lower teeth. Smiles are appealing and aesthetic when certain broad principles are fulfilled. The teeth have to be in the right proportion, they have to be correctly aligned, they have to be of the right shape, the right color and in harmony with the rest of the face. 

Along with the teeth, the gums, technically known as the gingiva also play a significant role. There is certain proportion of pink to white, which has to be maintained for the smile to be pleasing and beautiful. At times, the only difference between an excellent smile and a run of the mill smile can be heavily pigmented gums. If there is discrepancy in any of the above listed factors, the smile tends to get unaesthetic. It is not that if any one of the above conditions is not met, the looks will be totally hampered. Many a time, totally out of position teeth or disproportionate teeth may still exhibit a very pleasing smile. When the smile does get unaesthetic, the dentist can play a large role in correcting these discrepancies. 

Aesthetic dentistry usually requires a lot of teamwork. Teeth which are not in the proper position, are generally corrected by moving the teeth into the correct position. Such movements may be very minor or gross shifting around of teeth. A dental specialist, known as an "Orthodontist" does shifting of teeth. If the shifting is minor, it may take only a couple of months, but gross shifting may take upto two years and involve full fledged wiring of the teeth. In case time is not available or movement of teeth with wires is not feasible, certain malpositions of teeth can be rectified by reshaping teeth by grinding and adding special materials which have the look and texture of natural teeth. Such a job can be achieved within a matter of days. Another specialist, the “Periodontist” plays a role when a discrepancy of the gums to the teeth is to be corrected. Such corrections usually require a minor surgical procedure. A Periodontist also surgically removes pigments or stains in the gums.

The Cosmetic Dentist: Once tooth movement and gum correction have been achieved, the cosmetic dentist takes over and rectifies the other situations. These corrections are done by a variety of techniques. It is possible to directly bond “composite”, a tooth colored restorative material, over the teeth to reshape, rectify size and color of the teeth. If the problem is more severe, the aesthetic dentist will either “veneer” the teeth or “crown” the teeth with ceramic based materials. Fabricating and placing veneers and crowns is more of an art than a skill. Even though the requisite skills are required, it is necessary for the dentist to be able to visualize the end result. There are many aids and tools available to be able to re-design a smile as perfectly as possible. Computer aided graphics, mock ups with special materials, etc., are some techniques which give both, the patient as well as the dentist, a good idea of what will look good and what will not.