Aesthetic dentistry is not simply about making teeth whiter. It is about how the teeth, gums, lips, smile and face work together — and how the result makes the patient feel.
What I evaluate
- Tooth proportions, shape, colour and translucency
- Visible tooth display at rest and while smiling
- Dental midline and smile cant
- Tooth inclination and position
- Gingival levels and excessive gum display
- Lip movement, muscle pull and facial asymmetry
- Tooth wear and incisal-edge position
- Existing bonding, veneers, crowns and other previous dentistry
Conservative options first
Whitening, selective reshaping and composite bonding can sometimes produce meaningful improvement with very little removal of natural tooth structure. Bonding is not maintenance-free: it may chip, stain or wear with time. Porcelain restorations can offer different advantages in selected situations but represent a different biological and restorative commitment.
When the smile is not only a tooth problem
Sometimes the most intelligent solution is not another veneer. Orthodontic correction, periodontal recontouring or crown lengthening, and referral for appropriate management of lip or facial-muscle activity — including botulinum toxin (Botox®) when indicated and provided by an appropriately trained clinician — may be more relevant when tooth position, gum display or muscle pull contributes to the concern.
Prototype before committing
When several teeth are being changed, provisional restorations can function like a clinical prototype. They allow appearance, speech, comfort, tooth display and function to be evaluated and refined before the definitive restorations are completed.
The goal is not to give every patient the same smile. The goal is to design a smile that belongs to the person wearing it.