Dr. Joe Harmon is not just in the business of dentistry, he’s in the business of smile design.
According to Dr. Harmon of Delmarva Dental Services, smile design involves art, science, and a patient’s individual tastes.
One person’s missing front tooth is another person’s small chip, they look at it totally differently, said Dr. Harmon.
Commonly referred to as cosmetic dentistry, smile design begins with data collection. A patient will have several pictures taken of their smile from different angles, including full face, side view, a speaking shot, and a retracted shot.
Dr. Harmon says data for smile design also includes measurements of the teeth and measurements of the face in relationship to the teeth.
Once all of the data is collected, it’s time to get to work on the smile design. Dr. Harmon uses the computer as the drawing board. He comes up with options for the smile design and the patients are able to see how their smile will look through several computer mock-ups.
It’s nice to be able to guide them and it’s nice because you are educating them, said Dr. Harmon.
In the end, Dr. Harmon says patients are proud of their smile which boosts confidence and gives them something more to smile about.
