31/08/2019
A brief on Aesthetic Dentistry - Dr Hormuzd Vakil
What is Aesthetic Dentistry?
To put it in simple terms, or is the branch of science which deals with the appearance of your teeth, gums and bite. It is not strictly related to the functional aspects of teeth, though improving their appearance can improve their functioning as well.
Can you define an ‘aesthetic’ mouth?
As a , I don’t discuss subjective opinions about what looks good. We define a pleasant-looking as one that exists in harmony. Your teeth should be in harmony with each other. The upper and lower jaw should sit well together. Your mouth and bite should be in harmony with the rest of your face. There is a ‘golden proportion’ which constantly appears in nature – this must be studied when we look at . Therefore, there is no fixed answer to this question, just as there is no one perfect tooth. When we introduce an artificial tooth into a mouth, it could be objectively perfect – pearly white, perfectly shaped, etc. But that does not mean it will fit into your mouth along with the rest of your teeth to make an aesthetic whole.
What is the Golden Proportion?
The Golden Proportion appears repeatedly in . It’s in the spiral shape of a conch shell and in a spiral aloe. It’s even in the . In essence, the Golden Proportion is 1.618:1, and in dentistry, 1.618 is the ideal proportion between the size of two adjacent teeth.
So is that how you create artificial teeth?
We take a lot of things into account, from the golden proportion, size and colour of your remaining natural teeth, the size of your jaw and the space between two particular teeth, to the general shape of your teeth. A standalone white might seem appealing when seen on its own, but it would look very odd when placed in a set of existing yellowing teeth.
Why do teeth yellow? How can we correct this?
As we progress in life, our teeth start to grow yellow, in spite of regular brushing – and sometimes because of it! This happens because the enamel starts to grow thin, exposing the dentin underneath. Dentin is more yellowish in colour. The only real way to correct this is through the process of whitening. Cleaning only removes plaque deposits from the tooth enamel but does not directly affect its colour. Whitening, on the other hand, uses bleaching agents to whiten the teeth. This is a purely aesthetic process.
How does Whitening work?
Well, you can either go to your dentist’s office or do it at home. In-office whitening is done at the dentist’s office under strict supervision and takes one or two sittings. For home whitening, on the other hand, you need to collect the kit from your dentist and then perform the whitening procedure at home. It usually takes up to 15-20 days. I personally recommend in-office whitening to my patients as it is a more controlled procedure and significantly reduces the risk of something going wrong, such as the accidental ingestion of the bleaching agent.
What else falls under aesthetic dentistry? What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a field of dentistry which falls partly under aesthetic dentistry. It focuses on correcting occlusion, overbite and underbite, and the alignment of teeth. We use braces, brackets, veneers, aligners and crowns among other techniques to fix crooked, crowded or gapped teeth.
What are aligners? Are they as effective as traditional braces?
Aligners are a modern, more discreet version of traditional metal braces. These are made of clear plastic and need to be mounted on your teeth for a few hours every day. They work in the same manner as metal and are equally effective. They work by moving the position of the teeth but unlike traditional braces, you do not have to wear them around the clock. The aligners need to be changed every two weeks as your teeth realign. This is a simple process and does not require a visit to the dentist’s clinic, as all aligners are provided to the patient beforehand.
Can aesthetic dentistry fix badly damaged teeth?
Aesthetic dentistry does not repair the damage done to a tooth, but it does make those broken teeth look more presentable.
What are dental crowns used for?
Crowns are also used to enhance the look of a tooth. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap which is placed over the tooth and cemented into place. Full or partial crowns are fixed to damaged teeth, depending on the extent of damage to restore the shape or size of the tooth.
Do I need aesthetic dentistry?
It depends on you! who walk into my with teeth that are yellowing, broken, chipped or crooked, primarily face a lack of confidence. They tend to avoid showing their teeth, which means that during weddings they face a challenge avoiding the cameras! They tend to turn their faces, cover their mouths when they speak or tight-lipped without showing their teeth. Since our teeth and mouth form such a key part of our face, even a slight anomaly becomes readily visible… but it’s not necessary to spend your time struggling with a smile you don’t like! Regular visits to a cosmetic dentist will ensure that your teeth look and proportionate to the rest of your face.
