Category: Smile makeover

What makes a ‘perfect’ smile?

As a cosmetic dentist, it’s the question that all of our work is based upon.

Unlike traditional dentists, who restore teeth on an individual basis, we look at the smile as a whole – including the teeth, lips, jaw and gums. And we use certain artistic and scientific principles, to decide which procedures are needed to enhance its overall appearance.

These principles are called the principles of ‘smile design’.

They’re pretty easy to understand. In fact, they can be used to evaluate your own smile at home. Here we’ve rounded up the main things to look for. So why not grab a mirror and see how your smile compares to a ‘perfect’ set of pearly whites?

 

9 principles of smile design

 

1. Symmetry

Symmetry is the key to successful smile design. This includes symmetry of the teeth, gums and lips in relation to your face as a whole.

Essentially, the midline of your central incisors should line up with the centre of your eyes, nose, and chin. Imagine a line drawn down the middle of your face. To create the ‘perfect’ smile, teeth on either side of this line – particularly at the front of the mouth – should be a mirror image.

 

2. Horizontal alignment

To look its best, your smile should also be parallel to an imaginary horizontal line that runs between the eyes (i.e. the inter-pupillary line).

Of course, most people’s faces are naturally asymmetrical. That’s completely normal. But to enhance the appearance of your smile, there are ways we can create the illusion of horizontal alignment of the eyes and teeth.

 

3. Golden proportions

Beautiful teeth are always in perfect proportion to each other. Which is why, as a smile design dentist, we typically follow the ‘golden proportion ratio’.

From the midline, working outwards, each tooth should be approximately 65% as wide as the previous tooth. It sounds a bit confusing. But to give an example, if your central incisor is 10mm wide, your lateral incisor should be around 6.5mm wide, your first canine should be about 4.4mm wide and so on.

 

4. Central incisor dominance

Generally speaking, your central incisors should also be wider than your other teeth and have a specific width-height ratio of approximately 80% (i.e. the width should measure 80% of the height).

What’s more, they need to be symmetrical, and the midline should run perpendicular – without canting or tilting to either the left or right.

 

5. Smile line

When you smile, the tips (i.e. the biting edge) of your top teeth should follow the contour of your lower lip. This is known as the ‘smile line’ and it’s one of the first things we consider as a smile design dentist.

If the smile line is particularly flat, this suggests the teeth are worn and leads to an older appearance. As such, we look for the best way to add curvature.

 

6. Gum line

To have a nice smile, you need to have nice gums.

They should be a healthy pale pink colour and – similarly to the ‘smile line’ – your ‘gum line’ should closely follow the curvature of your upper lip.

Ideally, there should only be a small amount of gum tissue (1-3mm) visible when you smile. And the gum arcs above your central incisors, lateral incisors and canines need to be as symmetrical as possible.

 

7. Progressive embrasures

The chances are, as a patient, you’ve never heard of the word ‘embrasures’. But it’s another key element of smile design to be aware of – and one that can make or break the overall look of your teeth.

Embrasures are the small triangular spaces that you can see between the tips of your teeth. These should progress gradually, getting larger as you move away from the midline. And if they don’t, there are several ways in which natural-looking embrasures can be created.

 

8. Colour

For a smile to be considered ‘perfect’, the colour of the teeth needs to be bright and consistent.

Perhaps one tooth is significantly darker than the rest? Maybe you can see white or dark spots on the enamel? Or your smile has yellowed over time?

If any of the above apply, a professional whitening treatment may be suitable to improve their appearance.

 

9. Character

Last but not least, are there any obvious issues with your teeth – such as black triangles, gaps, chips and cracks, misalignment, overcrowding etc.?

Not only do these affect the overall appearance of your smile, they can also negatively impact your oral health – so it’s advisable to get them fixed. Either one or a combination of cosmetic and restorative treatments may be used to do so.

 

Contact our ‘smile design’ dentists today

Not happy with the way your smile looks?

If – based on the principles of smile design outlined above – you think there’s room for improvement, why not get in touch and book an initial consultation with our cosmetic dentists? This is provided completely free of charge (so you have nothing to lose!) and is a great chance for us to learn more about your dental wishes, assess your smile and advise on the most appropriate treatments.

Very few of us have naturally ‘perfect’ teeth. But with the help of our experienced team – here at Kiln Lane Dental – we can help to create a healthy and beautiful smile that you can be truly proud of.

To start your ‘smile design’ journey with us, either use our online booking system to choose a date for your consultation or send an email to info@kilnlanedental.co.uk. Alternatively, if you have any questions, or would like to find out more about the cosmetic dental treatments available, feel free to call us on 01744 25776. We’re always on hand and more than happy to help.

 

Kiln Lane is the no. 1 dentist in St Helens for cosmetic dentistry.

The surgery may have started small way back in 1965. But several decades later and led by the amazing celeb dentist – Dr Hanna Miraftab – we’ve transformed into a multi-surgery, state-of-the-art practice, offering all the latest cosmetic dental treatments.

From tooth whitening and Invisalign® to composite bonding and veneers, we can help with it all. Over the last few years, we’ve certainly become known for our ability to create the perfect ‘Hollywood Smile’. And our surgery is now frequently visited by popular celebrities, TV stars and influencers – all looking to transform their teeth and make their dream smile a reality.

Here we thought we’d share just a few case studies of people you may recognise.

 

Lauren Simon

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kiln Lane Dental (@kilnlanedental)

 

As a fellow star from RHOC (Real Housewives of Cheshire), Lauren is a close friend of Hanna’s – and she came to our clinic to give her smile a little TLC and address the wear and tear that had started to appear on her front teeth.

Treated by Tom (@tom_the_dentist), she received two treatments: composite bonding and tooth whitening. And was absolutely delighted with her new celebrity smile.

Lauren described her experience at our clinic as ‘second to none’ and recommended us to anyone wishing to transform their smile and boost their confidence.

 

Nicole Sealey

Last year, we were so excited to welcome the fabulous Nicole Sealey into our cosmetic dentistry clinic.

In preparation for the new series of RHOC, Nicole wanted to completely transform her smile – and she put her trust in us.

Porcelain veneers were used to ensure each tooth was the perfect size, shape, and shade – and we think you’ll agree, the results were truly outstanding. Nicole always looks fabulous and we’re proud to say that it was us who created her beautiful Hollywood smile.

 

Danielle Lloyd

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kiln Lane Dental (@kilnlanedental)

After being crowned Miss England in 2004 and Miss Great Britain in 2006 – model and TV personality – Danielle Lloyd has been a household name for many years now.

With a career in the spotlight, her appearance is everything and we’re incredibly honoured that she choose Kiln Lane Dental to create her dream celeb smile.

Danielle already had veneers on her upper teeth. But felt those at the bottom had been neglected, becoming gradually misaligned and ‘crossed’ over the years.

Following an initial consultation with Hanna, it was decided that Invisalign® was the best cosmetic dental treatment for her needs. And it’s fair to say, she was impressed with both how easy the process was and the quality of the results.

 

Lee Bloor

Heard of the womenswear label, Lavish Alice? A while back we had its Founder and Director, Lee Bloor, approach our dental surgery – looking to freshen up and brighten his smile.

Lee is a busy fashion curator and always on the go, so it was important to find a tooth whitening treatment that slotted into his hectic schedule. Blanc One® seemed to be the perfect option.

Taking just 30-40 minutes to complete, it’s a fast in-practice cosmetic treatment with immediate effects. Lee was so pleased with the final result and is always showing off his new sparkly smile in his gorgeous selfies.

 

Get your Hollywood smile today

This is just a small selection of the famous faces we’ve seen in our dental clinic over the last couple of years. We’ve also treated Clare Sophia, Natoya Rimmer, Dawn Ward, Josiah Carter, Michelle Joy Phelps… the list is endless. Just take a look at our Instagram page to see more!

If you’d like to invest in your own Hollywood smile, why not get in touch and book a consultation? We may get a lot of celebrities coming through our doors, but you certainly don’t have to be a celebrity to take advantage of our fantastic cosmetic dentistry service.

We believe that everyone deserves their dream ‘celebrity smile’ and we have the expertise to make it happen. To find out more about the cosmetic dental treatments available, and schedule your first visit to our St Helens dental practice, simply give us a call on 01744 25776. Alternatively, you can use our online booking system or send an email to info@kilnlanedental.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

 

At Kiln Lane Dental, we love nothing more than a smile makeover.

You only have to scroll through our social media pages to see lots of photos of our lucky patients, before and after their impressive transformation. We offer a diverse range of cosmetic dental treatments – and, whatever ‘dream smile’ you have in mind, we can make it a reality.

Here’s how.

 

 

Smile makeovers at Kiln Lane Dental

To begin your dental journey, the first step is to pop into the practice for a complimentary consultation. This is, essentially, an opportunity for you to find out more about the cosmetic, restorative and orthodontic treatments available. We’ll discuss what you like and dislike about your smile, establish exactly what you wish to achieve, and talk you through the options.

When it comes to a smile transformation, we don’t believe that one size fits all. To achieve your preferred look, you may require just one cosmetic procedure or several – alongside any dental work that’s clinically required to create a healthy smile. Therefore, our specialist dentists will come up with a bespoke treatment plan, that is tailored specifically to your requirements.

This plan will be designed to improve the overall appearance of your smile and boost your confidence levels. And to decide on the right treatments for you, we’ll consider three things:

 

1. Tooth colour

If your enamel is looking dull or discoloured, we may suggest a tooth whitening treatment as part of your dental makeover. We have a variety of options available, including Enlighten Whitening, Zoom Whitening and Home Whitening Trays – and the right one for you will depend on the severity of the discolouration and your personal preferences.

Whichever option you choose, all of these treatments are designed to brighten your teeth and successfully remove stains. The right shade for you will be carefully selected based on your hair colour and skin tone – and we’ll find the perfect balance between creating a sparkly smile and maintaining a natural tooth colour.

 

2. Alignment

Next, we’ll take a closer look at the alignment of your upper and lower teeth. Are any of them crooked? Overlapping? Or maybe unevenly spaced? If so, we may recommend Invisalign®.

Invisalign® is an innovative treatment that works in a similar way to braces – but rather than being fitted with unsightly wires, you’ll be given a series of clear removable aligners. Worn for up to six months, these will apply gentle pressure and gradually move the teeth into the desired position.

Alternatively, if you’d like a speedier smile makeover, veneers are another fantastic way to visually straighten your smile, or crowns can be used to cover one or two misaligned teeth.

 

3. Gaps and chips

Aside from negatively affecting the appearance of your smile, gaps, spaces and general damage to your teeth can also affect your bite and increase your risk of tooth decay. Therefore, we always recommend fixing these issues as part of your smile transformation.

Perhaps you’ve had a tooth removed and it’s left a big gap? Or you chipped a tooth whilst playing sport? Maybe you’ve developed black triangles? Or have a diastema that you really dislike?

The exact cosmetic dental treatment required to close the gap will largely depend on its size and the health of the surrounding teeth and gum tissue. But we usually recommend composite bonding, veneers, Invisalign® or dental implants.

 

 

How much does a smile makeover cost?

A full list of our fees can be found here. But it’s important to keep in mind, we assess each patient on an individual basis and the cost of your smile makeover will vary depending on three factors:

• what your teeth look like now
• what you want them to look like
• the treatments required to achieve that look

Your initial ‘no obligation’ consultation will enable us to get to know a bit more about you and your dental wishes. We can then advise on the best treatments and give you an accurate quote for your full smile transformation.

Take a look at our Instagram, and why not get in touch?

The skilled and experienced clinicians at our St Helens dental clinic are on hand and ready to create the smile that you’ve always wanted. To start your journey, either use our online booking system – and find the first available date for your cosmetic consultation – or send an email to info@kilnlanedental.co.uk.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the cosmetic dental treatments available at Kiln Lane, you’re also welcome to call us on 01744 25776 at any time. We’re a friendly bunch and we’re always happy to help.