How to get the perfect smile
By Tarvo Puust

Getting that "perfect smile" for denture wearers is both an art and a science. A good denturist knows how to find that find that perfect balance so that your smile doesn't look unnatural, but rather an improvement on what your teeth should naturally be.

People with teeth that are too white, too straight and have a tooth shape that doesn't compliment their face are easily recognizable by most people as denture wearers. However, there are many people who wear dentures that have a smile that looks so natural, that not even their best friends know they have them (unless, of course, they tell them). The trick to creating a natural and aesthetically pleasing smile is to take the smile that you were born with and make some improvements, while still maintaining its unique character and personality.

When a patient is unhappy with the look of the dentures they currently have, we usually ask them to bring in a picture of themselves before they lost their teeth. This way, they will have a smile that is natural and complimentary. If the patient does not like the way their teeth looked before, then we arrange the teeth. We will strive to maintain the key elements that keep the smile looking natural.

The smile affects the entire face, so it's all about matching the smile to the face. When we are picking the teeth, first we identify the shape of the face, is it oval, long, round, heartshaped or square? The easiest face shape to work with is an oval face. This face shape has been considered to be one of the most perfect in Western society. So, pretty much any smile works because an oval face is so well proportioned. You pretty much have pick of the litter, so to speak, when it comes to picking teeth; an oval face can handle it. The trick is to make the other face shapes look more oval.

The colour of the tooth is just as important in creating natural smiles. Generally, younger patients can get away with a whiter tooth colour and still look natural. Also, if your skin is very pale, we can pick a whiter shade. But there is more than just the whiteness to consider, there is also the various shades of white. There are teeth that have undertones of gray, brown, yellow, red, ecetera. When deciding on the undertones, we try to match it to your remaining natural teeth, if you are completely edentulous, then we take into account skin tone, lip colour, and hair colour among other aspects.

When we arrange the teeth, we are not only working with aesthetics but also its function.

There is only a certain amount of variation that we are able to do without compromising function. With that being said, it is essential to work together with a licensed denturist when creating your dazzling new, naturally looking, smile.

To make an appointment for a free consultation, call the Innisfil Denture Clinic at 436-1886.

The clinic is located at 958 Innisfil Beach Rd, Alcona (across from the Library) or visit us online at www.innisfildenture.com.