What does your smile say about you?

Its something we think about when people ask about Cosmetic Dental prices.

As a Cosmetic Dentist in Central London, it is a question we often comes across that is asked by odd surveys and random psychologists.

Why do people care about what their smile says about them, how can a fundamental expressive function be so meaningful when it comes to success, happiness and attraction?

A multitude of studies have proven time and time again; a smile can open doors to good jobs and allow you your pick of romantic partners. A study from Penn State University showed that when we smile, we are perceived as not only likeable and courteous but also much more competent. Another research shows that on average over 30% of human beings smile more than 20 times a day (not including children who can smile a whopping 400 times a day!). Brain scans have physically shown that with the simple act of smiling, the body automatically releases endorphins, reduces stress and even lowers your blood pressure.

Smiling is starting to sound a lot more important than just being a physical response to being happy! If this act has such power, then surely it makes sense that we have to take care of our smile and make the most out of this ability!

What makes a great smile? What limit for Cosmetic Dentist prices is worth it?

A smile is much more than just teeth. It’s the lips, the gums, the cheeks, the dimples and the sparkle in your eyes. Now with all these variable factors, many people can feel that their smile is less than perfect and avoid smiling altogether. Concerns usually range from crooked teeth, discoloured teeth, too much gum showing and even just the lips thinning too much when smiling.

Studies have shown that the factors mentioned above profoundly affect people’s self-esteem and lead them to avoid smiling. Or only allowing a closed mouth grimace of sorts – hiding your teeth is often seen as an act of negativity or seem unwelcoming, people who smile widely and show all their teeth are thought to be more open and trustworthy. People go so far as to avoid social interaction as a whole because they feel embarrassed of their smile or the way they look in general.

It is unfortunate that many people limit their life opportunities due to their insecurities, especially when there is so much available to help achieve whatever their desired look may be to help boost their confidence! Starting from the most common complaint – “my teeth are yellow”. Tooth whitening has become so comfortable and pain-free these days that most clients prefer to carry out the treatment at home at their comfort, with the use of the home bleaching kit. This kit requires two short visits to the dental practice, the first visit will be just for two moulds to be taken from the top and bottom teeth and the second visit will be to check the fit of the bleaching trays and give the instructions. Most clients will notice a decent difference in shade within the first month and can continue bleaching until they reach their desired tone. We also provide in-office bleaching for clients who would like to get a quick fix or a boost in their whitening regime. All needs met!

The second most common complaint is “my teeth aren’t straight, but I don’t want to wear metal braces” – thanks to modern technology, “train track” braces aren’t the only option for aligning teeth. Again when thinking of Cosmetic Dentist prices, choices are abundant, ranging from clear aligners like Invisalign or Inman Aligners or even short-term orthodontics (6 months smiles). For moderate cases or lingual braces (where the braces are on the inside of the teeth and not visible to the outside world)/white ceramic braces, which are often used in more severe orthodontic cases. These cases can typically last from 6 months to 1.5 years depending on the severity.

Once the major alignment work is done, individual tooth shapes can also be adjusted to allow a more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing smile. When considering Cosmetic Dentist prices its worth factoring in the end result. Oval teeth with rounded edges are considered the most attractive in women, and square teeth with more sharp corners are attractive in men. This is apparently due to the teeth reflecting the face shape of each gender. Women tend to have softer, more rounded/oval faces and men have more sharp defined faces. In most cases, teeth can be adjusted with the use of composite filling material (white fillings) and polishing disks, which require no needles and no drilling! In slightly more severe cases, the client may benefit from using veneers or crowns (if the teeth are very broken down or misshapen) – these are essentially little caps that sit on the tooth, in the desired shape and colour as chosen by the client.

A smile is made up of more than just teeth.

In many cases, people often forget about the soft tissue effects on a person’s smile. You can have perfectly aligned, beautifully white teeth, but all of that is overlooked due to an overwhelming “gummy smile” or asymmetrical lips. In other cases, clients also complain about thin lips (especially the top lip). This type of lip is usually referred to as “strap lip” due to its stretched tight appearance when smiling. A perfect smile is a combination of hard and soft tissue morphology when the teeth and lips are harmonious; the result is outstanding. Luckily, soft tissues are quite easy and quick to adjust. If it’s a gummy smile you are concerned with, a little bit of Botox can help relax the levator muscle, so your upper lip doesn’t get pulled up as dramatically. If lips are what bother you, a 30 minute filler appointment can be all you need. First, your lips will be assessed to ensure that you receive a bespoke treatment, providing you with lips that are best suited for your face, it should never be a “one size fits all” format. Lips are one of the most attractive parts of the body and are always on show. Therefore it is imperative that you leave with lips that enhance your smile, not mock it! You should use the consultation appointment to discuss at length with your doctor to ensure you both are happy with the final treatment. The great thing about botox and fillers is that there is almost no downtime whatsoever and is virtually painless, with almost immediate effect. We provide numbing cream and even offer dental anaesthesia when enhancing lips to ensure a completely pain-free experience, allowing the client to leave with a happy smile.

In many cases, people often forget about the soft tissue effects on a person’s smile. You can have perfectly aligned, beautifully white teeth, but all of that is overlooked due to an overwhelming “gummy smile” or asymmetrical lips. In other cases, clients also complain about fragile lips (especially the top lip). This type of lip is usually referred to as “strap lip” due to its stretched tight appearance when smiling. A perfect smile is a combination of hard and soft tissue morphology when the teeth and lips are harmonious; the result is outstanding. Luckily, soft tissues are quite easy and quick to adjust. If it’s a gummy smile you are concerned with, a little bit of Botox can help relax the levator muscle, so your upper lip doesn’t get pulled up as dramatically.

If lips are what bother you, a 30 minute filler appointment can be all you need. First, your lips will be assessed to ensure that you receive a bespoke treatment, providing you with lips that are best suited for your face, it should never be a “one size fits all” format. Lips are one of the most attractive parts of the body and are always on show. Therefore it is imperative that you leave with lips that enhance your smile, not mock it! You should use the consultation appointment to discuss at length with your doctor to ensure you both are happy with the final treatment. The great thing about Botox and fillers is that there is almost no downtime whatsoever and is mostly painless, with almost immediate effect. We provide numbing cream and even offer dental anaesthesia when enhancing lips to ensure a completely pain-free experience, allowing the client to leave with a happy smile.