Dental Smile Esthetics: The Assessment and Creation of the Ideal Smile

Esthetic considerations continue to become more relevant in dental treatment planning. Patients are becoming increasingly conscious of the significance of a beautiful smile in relation to facial beauty. Traditionally, dentists have focused on restoring health and functional elements of the dentition. Contemporary smile design is a relatively new concept, and techniques and philosophies are constantly evolving. This article describes the factors that need to be considered in the assessment and creation of the ideal smile, with emphasis on the integration of all the essential components of a smile: facial, gingival, and dental esthetics of the teeth. © 2012 Elsevier Inc