At his Midtown dental practice, Dr. Michael J. Wei Wei is known for combining science and art to create beautiful teeth and natural-looking smiles. In a recent post on Perio-Implant Advisory, a professional resource for dentist and hygienists, Dr. Wei wrote about the most important elements to consider when using porcelain veneers to create a perfect smile.
The Five Factors of a Perfect Smile
Many dentists offer porcelain veneers, but not every dentist is adept at successfully creating and placing veneers so they look natural and flawless. Great care, experience, and skillfulness are all essential in forming a beautiful smile, and there are several elements that go into creating that perfect smile:
- Size and shape: If you have short teeth or your teeth are too big, you understand the importance of porcelain veneers that are flattering in both size and shape. Small teeth are often responsible for gaps, making you look like you still have baby teeth. A gummy smile is also responsible for making teeth look small. Veneers can change this illusion, but some work may need to be done first – like gum removal or crown lengthening – to get to a balanced smile.
- Color: Veneers are not just “white,” and neither is your original tooth enamel. The color of a person’s tooth enamel is affected by the dentin beneath the tooth. If the dentin is dark or yellowish, this gives teeth a characteristic that cannot be changed with teeth whitening – veneers are the cosmetic dentistry solution that will truly change tooth color. If you want white teeth, the right dentist will make sure the white isn’t brighter than the whites of your eyes, and that the white blends beautifully with your skin color. Anything different, and you could end up with an unnatural-looking smile.
- Length: The balance of the face can be interrupted because of short or long teeth. Veneers are the miracle-worker that put teeth back into proportion. The artistry of cosmetic dentistry is called upon when determining length of veneers – veneers should not be identical in length, but subtly complement each other so they look like a natural smile. Treating gum recession with a soft-tissue graft may be necessary first before veneers are put in place.
- Alignment: Plenty of people want straight teeth, but they don’t necessarily want to see an orthodontist to get them. Veneers allow patients to get a straight smile without the time or effort required of braces or invisible aligners. Veneers align teeth too, concealing crowded and crooked teeth so your smile looks flawless.
- Translucency: Teeth reflect light, which means veneers should do the same thing to make smile makeovers look natural. If you have very translucent teeth without intervention, your smile can look discolored and unhealthy. You may want to go to the opposite end of the spectrum to combat the “thin” look, but any good NYC cosmetic dentist knows that opaque veneers fall flat and look fake. Translucency should be balanced to make teeth catch the light without being blaringly obvious.
Learn more about porcelain veneers from an expert and artist, Dr. Michael J. Wei. Schedule an appointment at his Midtown Manhattan dental office on Madison Avenue to find out whether veneers are the right choice for your smile makeover.
