Do You like Your Smile?

"Do you like your smile?" Many dentists make ask this of every new patient. The answer may be a simple "yes" or "no". The answer might be much more complicated. It is even possible that you might not like the way your smile looks without knowing exactly what it wrong. Dentists have experience and tools available to help.

Many people choose to become dentists because they have an eye for smiles and teeth. Dental schools capitalize on this interest. One of the first dental school courses, dental anatomy, teaches the way teeth should look and how they should line up. Human anatomy demonstrates how bones and teeth support the face. Later, orthodontics and occlusion, teach students to recognize when teeth are misaligned. If you think that something is wrong with your smile, your dentist's eye is trained to determine the cause.

There are some tools that the dentist may use to diagnose the cosmetic or functional problem. These same tools can help patients recognize their own cosmetic flaws. Together, the dentist and patient can identify possible solutions.

The first tool is listening. The dentist must listen to the patient. Conversely, it is helpful for the patient to tell the dentist what they think is the problem. Are your teeth too big or small? Do your teeth look different than when you were young? Do you have pictures of the way your teeth used to look? Is there a celebrity whose smile looks the way you would like your teeth to look? Do you like the color of your teeth?

Now the dentist will check over your health history. Are there any medical issues that might affect your oral health? For example, there are over 425 medications that decrease saliva. Dryness will make teeth more likely to be stained and decayed. Are you a smoker? Do you drink soda? Do you have diabetes?

X-ray images (radiographs) are important. Dentists need recent, high quality radiographs to diagnose oral disease and to plan treatments. Prior to any smile changing treatments, it is important to certify that teeth and gums are healthy.

Expect the dentist or a staff member to take a series of photographs and dental impressions. The dentist will use the photographs and the dental models to plan and test cosmetic changes. There are services and programs available to alter photographs under a dentist's direction to show the patient what their smile might look like after treatment. This kind of service is available to the public on the Internet; however, depend on your dentist for recommendations. Often, photographic changes are impossible to attain. Many dentists prefer to make changes to stone models of the patient's teeth to experiment with different sizes and shapes of crowns and veneers. Both systems are very useful.

All dentists follow the same rubric for dental care. First, relieve pain. Pain may be due to an infection, a broken tooth, or another cause. Next, temporarily replace or rebuild missing teeth or broken teeth. Then, assure periodontal (gum) health, and treat any tooth decay. Finally, replace missing teeth. Putting pressure on a dentist to change the order of treatment may result a poor outcome and bad feelings. Follow the dentist's recommendations to increase the likelihood of success.

Upon completion, the dentist may ask to take photographs of the finished treatment. Photographs in the patient's record will allow better follow up. Additionally, if there is an accident, or a failure of a crown or veneer, the photographs will help the dentist and dental laboratory technician reproduce the hard won smile.

Please discuss your smile with your dentist at your next appointment.