Principles of smile design

Here are just a few of the most important principles we use to help design your smile

Horizontal alignment

Ideally the smile line should be aligned so it is parallel to the horizontal. This tends to be preferable even when the eye line does not coincide with this level.

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Symmetry

Symmetry around the centreline is of great importance for an aesthetically pleasing smile. Even when this is not 100% possible, the illusion of symmetry should be created. This can often be achieved by ensuring symmetry of the two front teeth and other teeth close to the midline. Further away from the midline, asymmetry is not so noticeable.

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Smile line

The smile line connects the biting edges of the top teeth. Ideally this line should follow the curve of the lower lip. A flat smile line looks aged and worn. A curved smile line looks more youthful. Women tend to have more curved smile lines than men.

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Gum line

The gum line connects the highest points of the gum levels of the upper teeth. Ideally this line should follow the line of the upper lip, to ensure reasonable gum exposure and optimum display of the teeth.

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Smile width

A smile of normal width allows one to see the ideal progression from front to back teeth. In a narrow smile the side teeth are often in shadow so the front ones appear to stand alone.

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Embrasures

Embrasures are the little triangular spaces between the tips of teeth. Without these, teeth would look like piano keys. Embrasure spaces should be smallest between the two front teeth and get gradually larger further back.

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Golden proportions

The 'golden rules' of proportion are made to be broken but they do provide an excellent starting point. These rules describe an ideal ratio of the visible widths of the front six teeth: 1.6:1.0:0.6

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Tooth Proportion

There are also guidelines as to the ideal proportion of each individual tooth. For example the recommended ideal width to height ratio for the two front teeth is: 0.7:1.

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