Smile design: what is it, price, procedure and results

The smile is a universal communication method in human beings, for example, 30% of the world's people smile more than 20 times a day. From a physiological point of view, this simple act requires a flexion of about 17 muscles and its purpose is to express pleasure, entertainment or complicity, among other things.

In addition to being a very effective communication tool in mammals and humans, the smile says a lot about the individual's state of health. Displaced teeth, cavities, red gums, halitosis or dental fractures can indicate neglect, disease or lack of financial means on the part of the person presenting them, for example.

Thus, it is not an exaggeration to say that this facial expression is a clear indication of general health and social status. Fortunately, there are techniques that allow modifying the smile in a minimally invasive way, but it takes time, patience and money to be able to do them. Next, we will tell you everything you need to know about smile design.

• We recommend you read: "Surgery to lengthen a short nose: procedure, price and results"

what is smile design?

Smile design or Digital Smile Design (DSD) is a digital design of the patient's smile by studying the relationship between the teeth, gums and lips of the patient, in order to quickly and effectively plan the relevant treatment.

This type of technique arises in response to the demand to know the possible results of such an expensive and slow procedure before it begins. For this, a series of videos are recorded, photographs are taken and the dentofacial structure is analyzed in all possible daily situations (gestures and expression of emotions, for example).

Using computer programs, the patient's smile is modeled using variable proportions (for For example, the ideal incisor width / height ratio is 80%) in both 2D and 3D, in order to from identify and "fix" all oral irregularities present in the patient. If this gives its approval once the plan is finished, you can go to orthognathic, periodontal surgeries, implant placement and / or restorative processes to achieve the ideal modeling.

DSD has several benefits compared to traditional techniques. Among them, we find the following:

• Improvement in aesthetic planning and smile design: the dentist can plan every treatment to which the patient is going to undergo to the millimeter.
• Improved communication between multidisciplinary teams: dentists, maxillofacial surgeons and staff of laboratory have a joint idea of ​​the goal to be achieved, so the margin of error in the chain of action is much less.
• Improvement in doctor-patient communication: the patient can discuss the possible results with the specialized team before the changes take place.

All these benefits are clear, but you should keep in mind that the general base price of a smile design is 2,500 euros ($ 3,000). Depending on each case and the complexity of the surgeries required, this value can easily go to $ 10,000, an amount that few people can afford to spend at once.

Process

As we said in the beginning, taking photos and videos in all possible everyday situations is the first step to an effective smile design. After that, facial features and dental aesthetics are digitally studied, in order to achieve an adequate harmony and proportion. Once the purpose has been discussed with the patient, the desired smile is digitally designed and transferred to a three-dimensional model, also called a mock up. At practical levels, it is a model of the future dentofacial structure.

The mock up will be placed in the patient's own mouth, a fact that will end the simulation and show a direct result of the procedure to be performed. If specialists and patient agree, the pertinent treatments will be carried out, be they surgical or minimally invasive aesthetic.

Some of the smile designs only require the placement of porcelain veneers, that is, thin sheets that cover the front of the teeth. It is an easy and effective technique to hide defects in the coloration of the teeth or defects in them. If the teeth do not need veneers, they usually proceed to a dental whitening, which eliminates that annoying and aesthetically unfavorable "yellow".

On the other hand, many patients may require more complex and expensive procedures. For example, in many cases the lack of harmony when smiling is due to the absence of teeth. This requires accessory clinical evaluations, laboratory models and, finally, the placement of one or multiple implants and prostheses. As you can imagine, in these cases the price shoots up.

Finally, certain patients need a restructuring of the gums, in case these are too prominent or occupy an excessive space in the dentofacial structure. For this, gingivoplasty is used, a surgical technique that allows the lifting of the gums and, therefore, a reduction of these in the total smile.

Results

This conglomeration of computer techniques allows a very important event in any surgery: that the patient has realistic expectations. By being able to place the mock up in his own mouth and see himself with it, he will be able to know in full what to expect and what not of the restructuring process. Although it may not seem like it, it is a very important value when approaching any treatment of an aesthetic nature.

Even so, it is necessary to bear in mind that each procedure is a world. In milder cases (where there is harmony in the smile and ideal oral health) the treatment may last a few weeks, but if it is requires a gum lift or other surgical procedures, the time to final results can take several months.

Due to the cost and slowness of the process, we are interested in showing a list with the type of patient ideal for a smile design, for each reader to weigh if it falls into the category searched:

• Patients who want to look younger. A good smile design can take a few years off your facial structure.
• People who want to be more confident when it comes to smiling, especially if smiling is a significant psychological / self-esteem problem.
• Patients who wish to regain the shape of their teeth after a trauma / negative event.
• People who seek a greater sense of hygiene and personal care in their day to day.

On the other hand, the smile design is not recommended at all (or it is impossible, directly) in cases of oral infections, severe congenital malformations and other clinical conditions. You must bear in mind that DSD is mostly an aesthetic procedure, which is why it will not solve a medical emergency, much less.

It is also not recommended for individuals with certain lifestyles. For example, in smokers it is usually discouraged. This is because teeth whitening can fail and implants may not be fixed properly, as tobacco compromises the osseointegration process. In addition to all this, smoking promotes the appearance of periodontal infections, so the risk of something going wrong during treatment is greater.

Resume

As we have said throughout the article, it is important to note that smile design is a very expensive and time consuming procedure. In general, it may take a year from when the patient considers putting himself in the hands of the relevant dentists until he presents the 100% desired smile. This can be exhausting and frustrating, so be patient and trust the professionals.

On the other hand, we cannot finish without making a final reflection. Human flaws are common and, although there are standards of “facial harmony”, reaching it is not necessary to be attractive and charismatic. Although it sounds cliché, a perfect smile is nothing if it is not accompanied by a strong, firm and confident personality. For this reason, we only encourage those who consider their oral structure to be a significant problem to consider this type of procedure. For the rest: acceptance and self-evaluation can be worked from psychological areas, much cheaper and beneficial in the long term.