Since ancient times, people who can afford to devote time and energy improving their appearance have found ways to change their smiles. Trends have come and gone throughout history, but a healthy, full, white smile has always been attractive. The ancient Egyptians and Mayans put gems into their teeth and used gold to create crowns and bridges. You can still find gold crowns today, but most people prefer cosmetic dentistry treatments that result in a natural-looking smile.

Are you interesting in learning more about cosmetic dentistry? Grant Park cosmetic dentist Abbey Lee can help you achieve a more beautiful smile. She provides versatile treatments for every lifestyle and can help you design a unique smile makeover. Call us at 404-328-7177 to learn more!

Interesting Trivia About Cosmetic Dentistry

• Did you know that in Japan, there’s currently a trend referred to as “yaeba” (double teeth) which is considered to give young girls an “impish cuteness”? Young women are getting their canine teeth capped, to give the appearance that they stick out—a look we might call “snaggle-tooth” in the United States.
• Sharpening and filing the teeth has been popular in various tribes and cultures from around the world, and is still practiced today. In Sumatra, there is an indigenous group (the Mendawai) that finds pointed teeth particularly beautiful on women; many undergo a painful filing procedure to achieve this.
• In Elizabethan England, sugar was only available to the wealthy, who often wound up with tooth decay and discolored teeth from a sugar-rich diet (including Queen Elizabeth). Having darkened teeth soon became a status symbol; those who wanted to seem more affluent than they were would pay to have their teeth artificially blackened. Quite a difference from how we whiten our teeth today!
• When the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wanted to improve her smile, she did not go for porcelain veneers or Invisalign, as many celebrities do; she instead underwent a dental surgery procedure by a French dentist to create micro-rotations of individual teeth that left her with a straighter smile.
• A popular trend among celebrities in America involves using jewels and gold to “bling” one’s smile for special events. Look up images of Katy Perry, Wiz Khalifa, and Kim Kardashian West’s teeth “grills,” if you’re curious! Even swimming champion Ryan Lochte wore a patriotic red, white, and blue grill in a famous 2017 Olympics photograph.

Cosmetic Dentistry Today

Aside from celebrity bling, most people today want a smile that looks naturally beautiful. The desire to fix aesthetic flaws is so widespread that most dentists—Grant Park cosmetic dentist Dr. Abbey Lee included—are trained in providing safe and efficient ways to improve smiles. Many people seek a perfectly symmetrical and even smile—but treatments are flexible, so each patient can decide how “perfect” they want their smile to be. Some people choose to keep small flaws and inconsistencies that give their smile a unique, natural look.

Correcting Natural/Environmental Flaws

Whether you were born with naturally darker teeth, or you have staining from coffee and red wine, there are many ways to make teeth appear whiter and brighter. Teeth whitening uses the power of oxygen to break down stains, and some treatments are so powerful they can even reach intrinsic stains. If a tooth’s color cannot be corrected with whitening measures, treatments like bonding and veneers can cover the natural enamel with a thin layer of composite or porcelain to create a new surface.

Bonding and veneers are also a great way to change the dimensions of individual teeth. Porcelain veneers, especially, can be designed to make teeth appear larger, smaller, less chipped, or differently shaped. A good cosmetic dentist will know how to use these techniques conservatively to create a beautiful smile without overdoing it.

Creating a Brand-New Smile

For those who want to change many features of their smile, there are several ways to do this. For example, orthodontics and Invisalign treatments can change the alignment of your teeth. Patients with very crooked or crowded-looking teeth often place this high on their list of aesthetic goals, and recent advances have made these treatments faster than ever. Depending on your unique case, you may be able to change how your teeth are aligned in just one year or less.

Veneers are also a great way to achieve a brand-new smile, as they can supply each tooth with a new façade. If you follow specific celebrities and have noted their seemingly overnight smile transformations, it’s usually a set of veneers that created their perfect smiles!

If you’d like to learn more about the newest trends and options in cosmetic dentistry, visit Grant Park cosmetic dentist Dr. Abbey Lee at Smiles 4 Grant Park. Call us at 404-328-7177 for an appointment.