Patenaude Orthodontics

Esthetic Smile Design Services
in Carrollton, Texas

Braces, Surgical Orthodontics, Aligners, Pediatric Orthodontics

What is an Esthetic Smile Design?

This is the intersection of Orthodontics and Cosmetic Dentistry addressing any imperfections or desired changes in your smile. This is a collaborative approach between Dr. Patenaude and your dentist and/or other dental specialists. Tools in addition to the alignment of teeth can allow for a change in tooth shape, color, height, lip position, and gum position. Additionally, when planned with care, provide a smile that is maximally esthetic and easy to maintain and keep clean and looks natural. A team approach to planning is utilized to build dream smiles that last! This team includes you and Dr. Patenaude will work with you throughout treatment on the little details as we complete your ideal smile.

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Alignment and Tooth Shape

Although is isn’t immediately apparent, teeth have edges and slopes designed to function properly and when in the right position, properly reflect light to give the best looking natural smile. This is the first goal to make the most of your smile non-invasively and is often all that is needed for a knockout smile. This achieves a new look without compromising the integrity of the tooth or ease of care that cosmetic dental procedures often entail.

Sometimes, the teeth have undergone life. As a result that may no longer have their natural appearance due to a variety of factors – cavities, trauma, malformation, wear, staining etc. When that is the case restorations make a great addition to orthodontic care to transform your smile. Alignment of your teeth is crucial to create the most natural, longest lasting look.

Curvature and Height

When designing the most natural and ideal smile, proper width and curvature make a drastic difference. A full, prominent smile that fills from corner of lip to corner of lip adds so much to simply just straightened teeth. Additionally, there is the curvature of the smile. There are proper heights of the teeth in relation to your particular lip heights and curves when you smile that will look the best! Although this is individualized, there are some principles that can be seen here: the center teeth in the smile appear the “lowest” then roughly each tooth back looking a little higher in the smile, following the curvature of the lower lip and attempting to have some gum show with the tooth near the upper lip.

Jessica’s smile shows before and after just how significant this can be! Prior there is a reverse curve, and while the teeth were generally straight, there was excessive gum show on the left, and the front four teeth got “higher”, each tooth not following the lower lip. Dr. Patenaude will take the time to break down these elements in his treatment planning. Simply straighter teeth are no longer an acceptable target for an orthodontist.

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Getting you that perfect smile

Gum Show

Many don’t realize how much can change with the same teeth just by moving the gums. This patient after orthodontics and a gum procedure has a radically different look! No dental restorations needed.

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Prevention and Maintenance

We all want to plan to have our teeth for a lifetime, taking the steps to aid this is a great investment. Wear, stains, gum health, chipping, and cavities can lead to a breakdown in your teeth. Healthy well positioned teeth, are easier to brush and floss. Additionally, a proper fitting bite utilizes the natural shape of the teeth to properly guide your teeth when you use them to prevent wear and chipping. A properly built and planned smile gives you a life long “WOW” factor.

Dental work and restorations such as veneers are also set up for more success and longevity, as well as less unnatural bulk that can reflect light in natural settings poorly.

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Profile and Fullness

Profile, Lips, and Tooth Position

We don’t just smile straight at someone when we assess our smile and treatment goals. Consideration of the lips and profile is vital to the modern orthodontist, and is unfortunately often not considered especially in the era of chain run offices, and revolving door associate doctors. By appropriately maximizing the position of the lips and the jaw line we can improve the esthetics of the smile and create a natural look. Much of this can be done just through orthodontics. Dr. Patenaude will discuss as well with you if there are pros and cons to a collaborative approach in helping you achieve your ideal smile!

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