The Truth About Hollywood Smiles

American dentist in Dubai and Digital Smile Design expert Dr. David Donelson talks about Hollywood Smiles – the truth, the fads and the cost.

Patients beware, not all “Hollywood” smiles are created equal. I can’t count how many times I see real celebrities or “insta-celebrities” with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram advertising about their newly-acquired Hollywood smile.

The notion of a “Hollywood” smile has been largely created by media outlets over the past several decades. Many celebrities grace the covers of magazines like US Weekly, People, and The Enquirer after cosmetic procedures performed for their red carpet events. Smile makeovers are quite common among these cosmetic procedures loved by the Hollywood elite.

Dr. David Donelson, DMD, FAGD

A once unnoticeable or crooked smile of your favorite celebrity now has sparkling white symmetrical teeth. If this is the standard for what you are looking for then be prepared to spend big dollars to have your smile curated by a top clinician. Smiles can range anywhere from 40k-150k dirhams.

As with most things in life, you pay for what you get. Don’t be fooled by offers for insanely cheap veneers or “Hollywood Smiles”. The best smile in the world is truly at the hands of a great dental technician who creates the teeth. The work of master ceramists cost much than that of an average ceramist. Therefore the overall cost for the teeth is much more depending on who your dentist is uses to make the teeth.

Do good homework and find an esthetic dentist who has a portfolio of his work. Ask lots of questions and don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. This will drastically increase your chances of obtaining that perfect “Hollywood Smile”.

***

To book your Digital Smile Design consultation with Dr. David Donelson, please call Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic in Jumeirah at 04-3495900 today or book an appointment online.

Top 3 Most Sought-After Cosmetic Dental Procedures

By Dr. David Donelson D.M.D., F.A.G.D. (U.S.A)

Looking at enhancing your smile? Check out the three most sought-after cosmetic dental solutions at Dr. Michael's Dental Clinic in Dubai today.

First impressions are everything. Studies show that the first thing people look at in a face is a person’s eyes. The second thing that directly draws their attention is the teeth. People want to have an esthetically pleasing smile. Your smile should accentuate your unique personality. However, frequently people neglect their teeth and it adversely affects their self confidence.

The three most common cosmetic dental procedures for people who wish to achieve a beautiful smile are teeth whitening, orthodontics and veneers. 

The most minimally invasive and common approach to improving your smile is through teeth whitening. This can be done in the dental office in one session with a very strong whitening gel or at home in self applied trays using much weaker whitening gel. 

The next most common sought after solution to achieving a perfect smile is through orthodontics. "Braces" have taken many new forms from the traditional silver brackets of yesteryear. Invisalign, Inman aligners and Incognito Lingual Braces are far more esthetic ways to discreetly align and fix the position of your teeth to achieve a beautiful smile. 

If braces and whitening are either too time consuming or will not achieve the desired aesthetic look, then you might be a candidate for a bonded porcelain restoration. We can change the shape, color, contour and look of a smile by adding paper thin porcelain veneers to the teeth. This can be done quickly and accurately to achieve that perfectly imperfect smile you have always wanted. 

Regardless of your dental situation, seeing a dentist at regular 6 month intervals is imperative to maintaining your dental health. A consultation with your dentist about your specific dental needs would be a great place to start having a discussion about any of these three cosmetic treatments.

Digital Smile Design: Empowering Beautiful Smiles

Written by Dr. David Donelson, DMD FAGD

In today’s society, people desire having naturally beautiful smiles that are in harmony with their physical characteristics and expressive of their personalities. As a doctor that utilizes Digital Smile Design, we must be acutely aware of the many factors associated with developing a smile that goes beyond traditional dentistry. It takes an artistic vision and the ability to harness new technology to become a great designer of digital smiles.

Digital Smile Design is a systematic approach to consistently achieve functional and esthetic dentistry. It allows for diagnosis, communication, treatment planning and execution in a proven predictable way.

The concept is based on analysis of the patient’s facial and dental proportions. By using a series of high resolution digital photos and videos we are able to develop a deep understanding of the relationship of the teeth, gums, and lip with the rest of the face. Facial features that express emotion are analyzed to design the smile. Drawings are made on the digital photos to record measurements that translate to the desired characteristics of the smile. These photos are then used to communicate with the laboratory to fabricate a mold that is used to show the patient their new smile in their mouth.

Dr. David Donelson DMD FAGD

The DSD concept is customized for each individual patient. No two patient’s smiles are alike. The beauty of Digital Smile Design is the emotional response people have from the process of trying on their new smile. The patient becomes the co-author of their smile, allowing them to have input in their desires, expectations, color, shape and ultimately the end result.

The initial appointment for a Digital Smile Design takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The appointment consists of taking high resolution digital photos and videos, as well as impressions for study models. A week later at the follow up appointment the patient will see almost exactly what the end result will look like through the use of a “trial smile”. This is a direct replica of the smile design that temporarily goes over the existing teeth in order to test drive the new smile. At the end of the appointment the smile design is removed from the mouth before the patient leaves the office.

This “trial smile” is unique in that before committing to treatment the patient is able to see before and after photos. It allows for the doctor and patient to analyze the smile and make any improvements if necessary before beginning with treatment. The patient can then accept the case and make appointments to start work on their new smile.