How Aesthetics and Orthodontics Work Together

When discussing dental care, most people immediately gravitate to the teeth and gums. However, there’s far more to this medical profession than just these structures. It also involves the temporomandibular joint, sensory, and cardiovascular systems. The various treatments and procedures used during dental care can impact our appearance and facial aesthetics. Through this kind of treatment, dentistry can significantly impact our mental and emotional health through our self-esteem.

How Orthodontics Are Used In Aesthetic Dentistry

Orthodontics are fully trained in facial aesthetics and know what signs to look for while seeing patients. Orthodontics can improve teeth that are misaligned or have gapping, among other concerns. They can also improve the patient’s quality of life by:

• Maintaining periodontal health
• Enhancing facial and dental aesthetics
• Improving dental stability for speaking and chewing
• Establishing a harmonious facial contour

Dentists are able to establish effective treatment plans by considering the whole mouth. This requires them to consider a few elements when treating, diagnosing, or assessing a patient for orthodontic care.

During the 19th century, orthodontic treatment was focused on creating ideal occlusion, the way the teeth fit together. Dentists generally believed that improved facial aesthetics would follow this process naturally. Years later, it became apparent that facial aesthetics were a major component of patient satisfaction. Facial aesthetics are defined in three primary ways in dentistry:

• Macro-Aesthetics – How the teeth, gingiva, lips, and face relate.
• Micro-Aesthetics – The appearance of a single tooth as defined by shape, shade, and size.
• Nano-Aesthetic – Minute details involving the perception of how texture, shade, light, and anatomy interact to create the appearance of the teeth.

Your dentist must properly evaluate these three factors to achieve the ideal aesthetic outcome from treatment. It starts with a facial evaluation that explores the balance of these elements and how they interact with the face of the patient.  

No single element will, on its own, play a major role in impacting facial aesthetics. The gingival aesthetics, soft tissue, jaw size, facial height, and dental proportion are all involved in creating proper symmetry. Facial symmetry is assessed using three metrics:

• Upper Third – The area between the space between the eyebrows and the hairline comprises the upper third of the face.
• Middle Third – From the aforementioned space between the eyebrows to the upper lip is the middle third.
• Lower Third – The lower third is the upper lip to the bottom of the chin.

Orthodontics is excellent for addressing malocclusion, but it has to do more than correct this issue. It also has to consider the overall balance of the facial structures to produce an aesthetically pleasing result.

Speak To Your Orthodontist About Aesthetic Orthodontics

Curious to learn more about the details surrounding aesthetic and orthodontic dentistry? Reach out to your orthodontic specialist today! They’ll go over your orthodontic needs and what they can do to ensure you look your best after treatment. Everyone wants a beautiful smile they can be proud of. Schedule your consultation today!