Creating the Imperfect Smile

The following is an extract from a dental article in the New York Times which gives an interesting perspective on dentistry across 'The Pond ' . It implies that there has been a rejection of "perfection" in favour of a more natural and subtle look .

In this age of advanced aesthetic enhancement, subtlety is prized. The discerning get just enough Botox to unfurrow their brows, lest they become expressionless clones. And now dental patients are pursuing perfectly imperfect teeth.

It used to be the only veneers were big, gleaming, flawlessly lined-up white squares. Nicknamed Chiclets, they have become near-ubiquitous in Hollywood.

But these days, there’s a growing demand for painstakingly customized, natural-looking veneers created by professional dental ceramists, offering a balance of lifelike translucency and opaque whiteness. The lifelike “flaws” requested by patients include rotating the teeth next to the center pair so they overlap a little; subtly discoloring veneers toward the gumline so it looks between-cleaning realistic; and adding grooves so the porcelain isn’t oddly smooth.

Mr. Devaud, a guest instructor for the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry, said he has many celebrity clients, all of whom get a personalized look. “It’s not in my fiber to do a white and perfect-looking smile,” he said.

“What makes a person desirable and attractive?” Mr. Devaud added. “It’s not the symmetry; it’s perfect imperfections.”

“The white standard got too white,” he added. “The perfection standard got too perfect.”

To be sure, plenty of people still want polished piano-key teeth that scream, “I paid for these!” Others settle for such a look because they can’t afford to pay more for customization, or don’t know that it’s an option.

But for those with the means and awareness, the discreet look is in. Lawyers, doctors and other professionals “are not interested in people noticing their smile,” said Dr. Thomas Connelly, another cosmetic dentist in Manhattan. “They just want to have a nice smile. They don’t want to be known for their smile.”

Especially men. “Guys all say, ‘They have to look real, bud, or I’m not doing it,’ ” said Dr. Connelly, who works with ceramists like Mr. Devaud to “rough up” the porcelain on certain veneers. “Human enamel is not perfectly smooth,” he said. “We put texture – actual little grooves – in the porcelain"

The trend may have started with European dentists and ceramists, who long eschewed too-perfect teeth. “If you were 50 years old, they put a veneer on the tooth” with a “brown stain on it,” said Dr. Brian LeSage, a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills, Calif., and part of the faculty at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry. “Really ugly,” he called the look.

But Dr. LeSage, who recently spoke at the international meeting for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in London, reported that his European colleagues are now showing more interest in noticeably gorgeous, white teeth, just as some Americans are disdaining them. There’s been, he said, “a meeting in the middle".

Ruth

Extracted ( with thanks ) from an article in the New York Times ....When that Smile is too Perfect . By Neil Gershman

Dental Care in far away places!

After spending 5 weeks in beautiful Thailand, I came home wondering how aware Thai people are of oral health. Thailand presented me with lots of fresh, healthy food & a healthy lifestyle, man-made sugary snacks such as sweets & biscuits didn’t seem as easily accessible to children as they appear to be in our country. There was plenty of wholesome fresh foods to snack on instead. However when I investigated, I was very surprised by what I discovered.

A study showed that 70% of children 12 years of age had caries in permanent teeth, with 53% of these suffering with pain or discomfort. 88% of them claimed to be tooth brushing at least once a day.

In adults, aged 35-44 years of age, 74% of a persons daily performance was affected by poor oral health, making chewing food very difficult which had added effect on their health. 46% also showed signs it was effecting their emotional stability.

The studies concluded that systematic health education may further improve the oral health of Thai children and the primary school provide a unique setting for such programmes. I really hope this makes progress & people are educated more about how to prevent poor oral health and the problems this can cause.

I spotted a few dental practices whilst I was there & they looked lovely, I just hope the importance of good oral health can be promoted in more rural cultures and so help & prevent unnecessary suffering.

Amber

Dental Care for your Pets

We are a practice of animal lovers here at Absolute, with approximately 30 pets between the team (sorry if I've missed any!!!) and we all try to take the very best care of them - including their dental needs. I know we have alot of pet owners amongst our patients too, so I thought I would pass on some useful advice.

The dynamics of tooth and gum health for dogs and cats are similar to those of human beings. Pets also get plaque build up thanks to the modern foods we feed them, and their plaque also leads to gum and tooth problems, unless we help our four-legged friends do something about this.

Mother Nature’s Method:
Wild animals are naturally predisposed to eating healthy foods that feed their teeth and gums with essential nutrients and crunchiness which help to keep their plaque levels low. Their saliva does the rest, by buffering and cleansing, and so their teeth outlive them - as long as their gums stay healthy!

The Modern Threats that Pets Face:
Unfortunately, many of us have broken all these rules with love. We feed our cats and dogs soft food that does not clean their teeth. The result is inevitable – plaque builds, teeth begin to decay and gum disease becomes an all too frequent possibility.

How to Lend Mother Nature a Helping Hand:
The solution is to introduce a disciplined approach that keeps the plaque away from your pet’s teeth. There are three ways in which to do this – give them chewy food and toys, brush their teeth and seek professional assistance from a vet. The optimum solution is a combination of the first two of these.

Self-cleaning programs are the easiest way to keep your pets mouth clean. Feed your animal foods that are crunchy and restrict snacking, this could be kibble or even better,  raw food including bones. But definitely no chocolates, and definitely no sweets for your pets!

Di (with a little help from Bones & Badger!)