Natural-looking cosmetic dentistry is not an accident, and it is not a product you pick from a catalog. It comes from planning: the color and translucency of each tooth, its shape and proportion, how much gum shows, whether the teeth need to move first, how the bite works, and how all of it suits your face. At the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS, those decisions are made and previewed with you before a single tooth is treated.
This article looks behind the scenes at the artistry of cosmetic dentistry: why some cosmetic work looks fake, what a natural smile is designed around, and the steps that let you judge the result before it is final.
Why some cosmetic work looks fake
Most people have seen a smile that looks “done”. The usual culprits are easy to name once you know them:
- teeth that are one flat, opaque white, with none of the depth natural enamel has
- every tooth the same shape and size, as if copied from a template
- new teeth sitting against an uneven or heavy gum line
- a result chosen for a photograph rather than for the person’s face
Dr. Haywood insists on a natural, never-fake look. The fear that cosmetic work will be obvious is the reason careful planning matters more than any single material or brand.
What a natural smile is designed around
Color and translucency
Natural teeth are not a single color. Light passes into the enamel, and the edges look slightly different from the rest of the tooth. Ultra-thin porcelain stays translucent and shiny like natural enamel, even once bonded. Each veneer is customized by blending colors and translucencies with the small details that make a tooth look like a tooth. Where the tooth underneath is very dark or damaged, a veneer may need to be thicker or more opaque in those areas, which is part of why an evaluation comes first.
Shape and proportion
Teeth that are too short, too square or too even can look artificial. Proportion is also about the gums: a gummy smile is often caused by extra gum tissue rather than short teeth. A gum lift moves the gum line upward on the upper teeth for ideal tooth proportions and a more balanced smile.
Your smile line
Your smile line is the part of your smile that shows when you smile. It is shaped by your facial muscles, the size and shape of your lips and teeth, and your gum tissue. A design that ignores the lips and gums can look wrong even when each tooth is well made.
Alignment
Veneers can make crooked teeth look straighter, but a knowledgeable look at tooth position is part of planning cosmetic work correctly. When teeth need to move before they are touched, Invisalign clear aligners can shift them into a better position first, and Invisalign is often combined with veneer makeovers at the practice.
The bite
A beautiful smile still has to chew. An ultimate smile makeover aims for optimal function and beauty together, and some plans treat every tooth to create the most appropriate bite. Dr. Haywood has pursued advanced TMJ and reconstructive training at the Peter Dawson Institute, and bite protection is recommended for any cosmetic treatment.
Your face, age and lifestyle
Dr. Haywood has long described cosmetic planning on this blog as looking beyond the teeth to facial shape and coloring, age, health and lifestyle. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Two people who both want whiter, straighter teeth can end up with different plans because their faces and daily lives are different.
How a natural-looking result comes together
- A conversation first. Your visit starts with a thorough oral exam and a conversation about your goals and what you find beautiful. It helps to jot down what you would like to change beforehand.
- A preview on screen. Your digital photos are changed on the cosmetic imaging computer, so you see a before and after of your smile and plan the improvements together. Before-and-after demonstrations are part of every cosmetic evaluation.
- A plan you approve. The plan may be a single procedure or a combination. Whitening brightens, bonding repairs, veneers reshape and a gum lift rebalances. Treatment starts only when you approve.
- A test drive. With porcelain veneers, you receive a trial set to evaluate before the final set is made. It confirms that the shape, color and look meet your expectations.
- Hand-crafted final work. The final veneers are hand-crafted in the USA by master ceramists, using US-certified laboratories chosen for their ability to customize each case.
- Care that protects the design. You leave with aftercare instructions, and veneers carry a one-year warranty.
Why the dentist matters more than the brand
Names like Lumineers, DURAthin and DaVinci veneers are mostly marketing for the thinnest veneers, which are made of the same materials. The brand name does not make a smile beautiful; the skill and artistic vision behind each custom design does. Thin, minimal-preparation veneers in particular are a demanding procedure that takes experience, training and an exceptional team. If you are comparing practices, see how to choose a cosmetic dentist in Timonium.
The training behind the artistry
Dr. Haywood trained in cosmetic dentistry at New York University’s Aesthetic Continuum under Drs. Larry Rosenthal and Ross Nash, is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has more than 35 years of experience. Dr. Haywood was selected to perform an extreme smile makeover for ABC, and the practice’s cosmetic work has been featured in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine and New Beauty Magazine.
Artistry at every scale
The same eye applies to a single tooth as to a full makeover. Dental bonding is sculpted by hand, directly on the tooth, and getting the best possible fit takes a great deal of skill and precision. One patient wrote after a chip repair: “The tooth looks better than before it was chipped!” Another, who chose veneers and minor cosmetic gum surgery, wrote: “The results speak for themselves.” You can compare computer previews with real outcomes in the practice’s smile gallery, which shows before-and-after photos of actual patients.
Choices that are yours to make
Artistry is the dentist’s job, but the direction is yours: how bright, how much change, and how many teeth. If you are still deciding between a subtle refresh and a dramatic change, read how to match a smile makeover to your personality.
Cost, insurance and financing
Every case is unique, so fees are set after an assessment, and a smile makeover comes with a clear estimate up front. The practice is out of network with insurance companies: you pay at the time of service, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for anything it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome. Financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist?
Every dentist can provide cosmetic treatments, but the training and experience behind them vary widely. Dr. Haywood provides general and cosmetic dentistry in the same office, with advanced cosmetic training from NYU’s Aesthetic Continuum and AACD membership.
Will people be able to tell I have veneers?
The goal is that they cannot. Ultra-thin porcelain stays translucent like natural enamel, and the trial set lets you judge the look before the final veneers are made.
What if I do not like how the trial veneers look?
That is exactly what the test drive is for. Say so while you are wearing the trial set, so the shape, color and look can be refined before the final set is made.
How do I keep a cosmetic result looking natural?
Wear bite protection, limit staining foods, whiten your teeth routinely and keep up with home care and professional visits. With that care, porcelain veneers can last for decades.
Plan a natural-looking smile in Timonium
Bring your ideas and your questions, and see a preview of your smile before you decide anything. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Towson, Hunt Valley, Baltimore and Shrewsbury, PA. Explore all cosmetic dentistry in Timonium.
Ready to see your future smile?
See a preview of your natural-looking smile at a cosmetic consultation in Timonium.
