Hollywood Smiles

Good news: Anyone can achieve a great smile! Australian DR BERNARD SIEW focuses on complete smile makeovers, oral rehabilitation and implant prosthodontics.

“It’s the patient who dictates the result,” says Dr Siew. “I tell them we can do basically anything with their teeth. They need to tell me what smile they want, and I will find the best way to achieve it.” To this end, he follows two rules: firstly, to achieve the desired outcome while preserving as much as possible of the existing tooth structure; and secondly, to use the simplest method possible.

What is a Hollywood smile?

Apart from tooth colour, it’s also about the “openness” of the smile, meaning how much tooth we see. “Teeth that are not broadly displayed are unable to reflect much light, so whiteness alone may not do the trick,” he explains.

Also important is how the lips frame the smile. “Lipline” refers to the amount of gum you show, and he says a moderate lipline is best.

Symmetry is vital, too. “For crooked and overcrowded bottom teeth, it may be simpler to take out just one lower front tooth and correct the alignment with braces; but it may be better for tooth symmetry to take out two lower back teeth, one from either side.”

Culture, gender and age

Dr Siew sees many nationalities in his practice, so he has a good idea of the different cultural expectations. In the US, for example, smiles are generally much whiter than in the UK or Europe.

When it comes to shape, men suit more rectangular or squarer teeth with harder angles; for women, softer shapes with rounder edges look better. For older women, correcting long teeth has a wonderfully rejuvenating effect, but Bernard says he’d be less likely to suggest an unnaturally light colour: “A beautiful smile should attract, but not distract.”

Smilefocus #08-02 Camden Medical Centre 1 Orchard Boulevard 6733 9882 | smilefocus.com.sg