I have heard that porcelain veneers can be done to portray different looks or personalities. Can you help me understand the differences?
-Paula in North Carolina
Paula,
A beautiful smile makeover with porcelain veneers can provide you with increased confidence, self esteem, as well as portraying different looks. Here is a breakdown of how they can be tailored just for you.
Confidence
If you have any issues with your teeth, like gaps, misalignment or discoloration, it is likely that you tend to hide your smile. Depending on the severity, many patients admitted to hiding their smile when they laugh, talk and even avoid photographs. Porcelain veneers can fix these issues and give the appearance of a perfect smile. Since the patient is no longer embarrassed and feels comfortable smiling and showing off their teeth, confidence is the natural result.
Youthful
You may not realize it but our teeth may shorten as we get older. Also, regular grinding and biting can cause them to wear down. Others have shorter teeth to start with. Try looking at a photo of your self 10-20 years ago and compare it to your smile today. It may be subtle, but subconsciously the length of teeth indicates a certain age. So, when porcelain veneers are made to portray longer teeth, you will look more youthful. It is worth mentioning that it is very minor length since the smallest modifications can make a huge aesthetic difference.
Strong and Bold
If a patient wants to appear stronger or possibly exude boldness in a leadership role, squaring off the porcelain veneers can emote that demeanor. Square shaped porcelain veneers can tend to be more of a masculine type look too.
Approachable and Personable
If you come across as an intimidating personality and would like to come across as more approachable, you may want to consider having the edges of the porcelain veneers be rounded. This will help soften your look and give you a more inviting smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry Comparison
Cosmetic dentistry can be life-changing and the possibilities are endless. Here is an example from a couple of Hollywood celebrities to further emphasize these ideas.
The Rock is typically associated with strong and powerful, leading roles in movies. Whereas Natalie Portman typically is more personable and soft-spoken. When you look closely at their smiles, you can see the subtle differences in the shape of their teeth. For example, in Natalie Portman’s smile, her front teeth appear to be slightly longer. This also exudes a youthful look, as we talked about.
These are just a few of the ways cosmetic dentistry can be used to help individuals enhance their look. If you are considering porcelain veneers, the best thing to do is to meet with an expert cosmetic dentist in your area. They will be able to walk through the best options for you and make recommendations based on your facial shape, complexion, as well as the personality you want to highlight.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.