“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” 

Cosmetic dentists receive years and years of training to have the ability to fabricate the “perfect” smile.  But the ultimate question is:  What is perfect?  A recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association looked at this very question from laypeople’s perspective. 

The study focused exclusively on tooth-related factors: tooth shape, tooth size, tooth proportion, and incisor position. 

In females, we dentists aim for a more feminine smile with rounded teeth, but it turns out that laypeople disagree.  They found that laypeople did not discriminate between square, square-round, and round incisors or between canine shapes in females.  In males, on the other hand, a more square tooth shape is desired and laypeople agree.  They preferred square-round to square incisors and flat canines in males. 

Other study findings included the following:

• Most laypeople appear to prefer unworn teeth, small teeth in females, and large teeth in males.
• Most detect variations in tooth width or height among individual teeth.
• A 10° angulation of one or both front teeth  is considered less attractive than a 2° angulation.
• The majority of laypeople preferred a 1.4-mm step between the edges of upper front teeth and the teeth beside them, but they tolerated a maximum step of 2.9 mm.
• Most laypeople had a preference for no gaps and tended to notice a gap larger than 1 mm.

If you do not like your smile and are thinking about cosmetic dentistry, read on…

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but certain qualities are more esthetically pleasing according to the majority.  With that said, wouldn’t it be nice if you and your cosmetic dentist were on the same page as far as how you want your teeth to look?  With the advent of virtual smile imaging, now a computer generated smile makeover can give you a very good idea of your desired outcome.  And, you can evaluate that and make changes BEFORE treatment has begun.  Visit BirminghamVirtualSmile.com to learn more.

If virtual imaging is not enough, Greystone Smile Design actually takes it one step further.  With veneers and smile makeovers, temporary restorations have to be worn for 2-3 weeks while the permanent ones are being made.  We use these temporaries as a blue print for the final result.  These are made as close as possible to the finished product, so you have a chance to make changes prior to the permanent cementation.  If you think about it, this is the only cosmetic procedure where you actually get a “test drive” – much different than plastic surgery. 

At Greystone Smile Design, our goal is to give you the smile of YOUR dreams.  With virtual imaging and custom temporaries, YOUR beautiful smile is easily within reach!

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Will the treatment be painful?

 Most people experience tooth soreness for a few days after starting each new stage.  This is normal.  It is a sign that the Invisalign aligners are working, moving your teeth to their final destination.  This soreness should gradually go away a couple of days after inserting the new aligner in the series.  If it doesn’t, promptly call your doctor.

Will wearing the Invisalign aligners affect my speech?

Like all orthodontic treatments, the aligners may temporarily affect your speech, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two.  However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by your aligners should disappear.

What should I do if my new Invisalign aligner doesn’t snap onto my teeth?

Minor discrepancies between the new aligner and the current tooth position are normal, since the teeth need time to conform to the new aligner position.  In the event of significant problems with aligner fit, inform your doctor.

Are there restrictions on what I can eat?

In general, no.  Unlike traditional orthodontics, you can usually eat and drink whatever you desire because you remove your aligners while eating.  Thus, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. 

Is it OK to drink hot or cold beverages while wearing Invisalign aligners?

Except for cool water, we recommend that you do not drink while wearing the aligners.  This is to avoid formation of cavities and stains, or warping of the aligners with hot drinks.

Can I chew gum while wearing Invisalign aligners?

NO.  Gum will stick to the aligners.  We recommend removing your aligners for all snacks and meals.

Why do some of my aligners have bumps or ridges on them?

Depending on your specific treatment, some of the movements may require either “attachments” or “ridges” to help the aligner grip the teeth.  These bumps, or wells, are where the aligner grips the attachment the doctor places on your teeth.  The attachments are actually small pieces of plastic the doctor affixes to your teeth that are then gripped by bumps on your aligners.  The ridges are slim indentations in you aligners.  Your doctor will use one or both of these features to attempt to achieve the desired movement.

What are those blue dots on my aligners?

The blue dots are “compliance indicators” (CIs).  They are designed to fade from blue to clear with prolonged exposure to saliva.  They are a gauge of your approximate aligner wear time.  A compliance indicator keycard is provided so that you can track the color changes of the CIs.  Not all aligners have CIs.

What if I lose or break an Invisalign aligner?

In the event that an aligner is lost or broken, you should immediately inform your doctor.  Your doctor will probably tell you to start wearing your last set or next set of aligners immediately.  He or she will possibly order you a new set of aligners to replace the ones you just lost, which should arrive in a few days.

NOTE:  If you have additional questions after reading this, please consult with your doctor. 

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There has always been some disagreement in the dental world about this question.  Some past studies showed that high-concentration hydrogen peroxide-based products can cause increased porosity leading to demineralization and calcium loss, but results have always been inconclusive.

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