Without uttering a syllable, your smile can speak volumes. The aesthetics of your smile—the shape of your teeth, their whiteness, even the appearance of your gums—are one of the first things people notice. There’s the medical and functional aspect of what we do, and then there’s the artistry of cosmetic dentistry.
Shaping your teeth can highlight your face’s best features and downplay less appealing characteristics. Realize that your goal, however, should not be perfection. If teeth are too even, too straight, or too white, you end up looking artificial. Nothing in nature is perfectly symmetrical, and teeth are no exception. Beverly Hills dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman knows this and treats his patients accordingly.
In Chapter 2 of Dr. Dorfman’s book “Billion Dollar Smile,” he discusses different face shapes and smile styles along with tips on how to subtly enhance your smile to best suit your personality, complement your face, and have your smile say what you want it to say. For instance, a round face will be enhanced by a smile with longer, more vertically shaped teeth. One trick Dr. Dorfman likes is to use tooth bonding and porcelain veneers to make the two front teeth just a little longer than the ones next to them.
Your smile can and should say so much about you. Whether you want your smile to help you look younger, more mature, feminine, masculine– the possibilities are endless. What do you want your smile to say about you?