Smile Design

Smile design is one of the things that truly sets cosmetic dentistry apart. To me, smile design is customized and individualized for each patient.
When patients come to our office, they usually have a smile they’re not happy with. It’s our job
to show them the improvements or possibilities we can achieve through veneers or other treatments.

When I think of smile design, I think about the patient, how they look and how their smile looked when they actually liked it. There’s often a point in someone’s life, maybe when they were younger, when their teeth were less stained, less chipped, whiter, brighter, or straighter. For many people, our goal is to take them back to that version of their smile. The one they were confident with and loved.

So again, smile design is individualized and customized for each of our patients. There’s so
much that goes into it. It’s one of my favorite things to talk about. We look at the shape of the face, how much of the teeth show, the skin tone, the color of the whites of the eyes, and, of course, the patient’s goals and the look they want to achieve.

There are countless factors we consider: size, shape, color, alignment, fullness, the level of the teeth and gums, texture, and translucency. These details might not always be discussed out loud, but they’re constantly in the back of our minds as we design a smile that truly fits that individual.

Smile design is not one-size-fits-all. It’s always customized to fit the person’s face, features, and their unique appearance.

The best kind of smile design gives someone a version of their smile that still looks like them but just enhanced. The last thing we want is for someone’s teeth to look like they belong to someone else. The smile should fit naturally within their face and lips as a frame, creating harmony with their overall features.

That’s what we mean when we say “facially driven smile design.” It’s about crafting a smile that fits beautifully within the appearance of the face and enhances a person’s natural features.

We balance science and artistry by always starting with the foundation: the health and function of the teeth. Before we even talk about veneers or cosmetic enhancements, we evaluate the integrity, strength, and health of the teeth and gums.

Health and function are the foundation for everything we do. Once that foundation is solid, aesthetics becomes the icing on top and the finishing touch that completes the smile. That way, we don’t just have a healthy and structurally sound smile; we also have one that’s truly beautiful.

Yes, patients often bring in photos of celebrity or influencer smiles they like and we love when they do. It gives us great insight into their vision.

When this happens, we take the time to talk about what they like about those smiles. For example, one patient came in with three very different celebrity smiles. To us, the differences in shape and size were huge, but when we asked her what she liked, she said, “Oh, I just like the color.

So, I always tell patients: inspiration is great but we aim for inspiration, not duplication. Everyone’s lips frame their teeth differently, and everyone’s smile is unique. The widths, shapes, and proportions of people’s teeth vary from person to person.

We might use celebrity smiles as inspiration to guide the design, but the goal is never to copy someone else’s smile. It’s to create the best version of their smile.

Every smile is unique, just like every individual is unique. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to meet new people every day and help them improve their confidence through their smiles.

Each person’s smile reflects their personality, their lifestyle, and who they are. Our goal is to
optimize their smile in a way that fits their character, their goals, and their approach to life.

It’s a privilege to be part of that process and to customize every detail for each individual patient.

Ultimately, I wholeheartedly believe that cosmetic dentistry is where science meets art.