Beautiful teeth - Dental aesthetics

Dental aesthetics focuses on the appearance of teeth and gums and defines the term “beautiful teeth”. The goal is to achieve a beautiful and harmonious smile that reflects naturalness and health.
Dental aesthetics is also called aesthetic dentistry and includes various methods to restore beautiful teeth and a perfect smile.
Through the use of different techniques, beautiful teeth can be recreated, even though the dental situation has little to do with health.
In this article we will explain important points about the potentials, but also the limitations of dental aesthetics.
Veneers
Veneers are thin ceramic shells that give the front teeth a beautiful and natural look.
Bleaching
Bleaching is a method that whitens up discolored teeth.
Beautiful teeth and gums - an inseparable unit
Imagine a person with the most beautiful teeth, but their gums appear unhealthy and have receded. Such a sight lacks aesthetic appeal.
Teeth and gums form an inseparable unit known as Red-White Aesthetics. Both components must be healthy and in harmony for the dentition to be considered attractive and beautiful.
Several factors can harm teeth and gums. It’s crucial to be aware of these points.
For Excellent Dental Aesthetics, the Following is Important:
- Experienced and Cohesive Team of Dentists:
A team of skilled dentists working seamlessly together is essential. - Experienced Dental Technician:
A skilled dental technician working closely with the dental team, proficient in handling ceramic materials.
Expert Team with an In-House Dental Laboratory:
Our team of experts, combined with an in-house dental laboratory, ensures optimal aesthetic results even in complex restorations.
Factors that can affect Gum Health
There are various influences that can make the gums ill in the long term, causing teeth to look unattractive and unhealthy. One widespread problem is gingivitis.
In the following points, we look at all the factors that can damage the gums.
Unhealthy Bacterial Flora
Bacteria in the oral flora that can destroy gum tissue lead to pathological changes. The connection to the tooth weakens, creating deep gum pockets. Bacteria, metabolic products, and toxins enter the bloodstream through these pockets, putting a strain on the body.
Signs include softened, reddened gums that bleed easily and bacterial plaque along the gum line.
Anatomically Flawed Inlays and Crowns
Incorrectly reconstructed damaged teeth with materials like ceramic can lead to problems with the gums. Poor contact between teeth can trap food particles, irritating the interdental space.
Incorrect Brushing Technique
Using a toothbrush that’s too hard with excessive pressure can traumatize the gums, causing recession. Electric toothbrushes, if the bristles are too hard, can also contribute to gum recession.
Health Problematic Materials
Certain dental materials, such as metals like amalgam, gold, or titanium, may not promote a secure attachment of the gums. Ceramic, especially zirconia, has been found to foster a strong connection and is considered the material of choice.
Smoking and Gum Health
Smoking directly affects teeth and gums, leading to problems such as gum recession, the formation of “black triangles,” and visually elongated teeth. Smokers are also more prone to chronic inflammations and deep gum pockets.
Teeth – The White Aesthetics
Teeth are the hardest tissues in the human body and play a crucial role in food breakdown. Their specific shapes, varying slightly among individuals, harmonize with facial features.
What Can Damage Teeth
Teeth can also be damaged by various influences, which should be avoided at all costs if you want to keep beautiful teeth. In the following list you will find the factors that can damage your teeth.
High Levels of Cariogenic and Periodontal Bacteria
These bacteria are primary contributors to dental decay and periodontal disease, leading to tooth destruction over time.
Incorrect Toothbrushing Technique
Brushing with a hard toothbrush and excessive pressure can wear down the tooth enamel, making teeth appear thinner and aesthetically displeasing.
Grinding and Clenching
Bruxism, a common issue, involves excessive teeth grinding and clenching, leading to enamel wear, aesthetic, and functional problems.
Smoking and Tooth Decay
Smoking reduces saliva production, increases oxidative stress, and is associated with a higher risk of tooth decay.
Dental Aesthetics and Function
Beautiful teeth are important. However, a patient will not be satisfied if the function of the masticatory system suffers under dental aesthetics. The patient wants to be able to bite correctly without disturbing tooth contacts causing hindrance.
Therefore, function must be considered in every dental treatment and goes hand in hand with aesthetics.
The restoration of the correct function of the masticatory system always depends on achieving the ideal anatomy of tooth alignment, tooth shape, and bite height.
These optimal anatomical conditions always lead to correct function.
In these cases, function and aesthetics are particularly important and complex in implementation:
- In patients with TMJ (Temporomandibular Disorder of the Joint), the temporomandibular joints and surrounding tissues must be regenerated, and the anatomically correct bite restored.
- In edentulous patients requiring fixed implant-supported restorations. Here, the correct bite height, anatomically correct dental arches, and tooth forms with precise tooth contacts must be reconstructed to achieve the best possible aesthetics for the patient.
- In patients with significant bone loss due to accidents or bone infections.
Collaboration of Various Specialists
In aesthetic dentistry, it is crucial for dentists with different specialties to collaborate closely to achieve the ideal aesthetic and functional outcome. This approach allows complex cases to be treated with an ideal aesthetic and functional result.
Periodontology
Dentists specializing in periodontology focus on creating aesthetic and healthy gingiva. The foundation of this is an ideal oral flora.
Oral Surgery
Dentists in oral surgery are responsible for the removal of damaged and diseased teeth and the placement of ceramic implants in the most aesthetically pleasing position. Periodontal surgical enhancements of bone and gum can also be performed. If there is a lack of jawbone in height and width, it can be reconstructed with autogenous bone through oral surgery. Oral surgery is an essential part of aesthetic dentistry.
Prosthodontics
Implants and anatomically incorrect tooth forms are prosthetically restored with ceramic inlays/onlays or crowns. The individually correct anatomy of the teeth must be created, optimizing both the tooth form with correct contact points and the tooth alignment in the dental arch in relation to each other to enhance the function of the masticatory system and the appearance of the face.
Orthodontics
In complex situations, the orthodontist can harmonize the teeth in their position before implants are placed and dental restorations are created. This can result in an excellent outcome even in elaborate rehabilitations.
Dental Technology
For a perfect aesthetic result, a dental technician with extensive experience and artistic talent is necessary. As ceramic is the material of choice, a high level of expertise with this material is a prerequisite for maximum aesthetics.
Techniques for Beautiful Teeth
In aesthetic dentistry, various techniques and options exist for achieving beautiful teeth. The focus is on improving tooth shape, tooth alignment, tooth color, and dental health.
Bleaching/Teeth Whitening
Teeth darken with age despite regular professional cleanings. Therefore, a bright smile is often associated with health and youthfulness. Bleaching is a method to lighten the natural tooth structure and improve aesthetics.
In our dental practice, we can achieve a mild bleaching with plasma and ozone. This method is non-invasive, gentle on the gums, and does not cause tooth sensitivity.
Veneers and Lumineers/Non-Prep Veneers
Veneers are ceramic shells permanently bonded to the front teeth, enhancing the aesthetics of shape, color, and tooth structure. Conventional veneers are approximately 0.7 to 1 mm thick, requiring some tooth preparation.
Lumineers, also known as Non-Prep Veneers, are ultra-thin ceramic shells, only about 0.3mm thick. Often, there is no need for prior tooth preparation.
It is crucial with veneers to avoid any disruptive overloads on the ceramic shells. Therefore, a thorough examination of the masticatory system should be conducted beforehand.
Aesthetic Dentistry and Ceramic Implants
Ceramic implants are made of zirconia. They offer not only health advantages over traditional titanium implants but also significant gains in aesthetics.
- Gums and bone adhere firmly to zirconia ceramics. Since no pocket forms, gum inflammation occurs less frequently, and the red aesthetics appear natural and healthy.
- Less bacterial biofilm adheres to zirconia ceramics compared to titanium or natural teeth. This results in a lower tendency for inflammation, reflecting in the natural pink aesthetics.
- The white, tooth-like color of ceramic does not appear disruptive and is not associated with illness. Even if part of the ceramic implant is visible without coverage, it has no negative aesthetic impact. In contrast, titanium implants have a metallic-gray color that can show through the gums. If the upper portion is uncovered, it quickly becomes noticeable and negatively affects aesthetics.
Crowns and Bridges in Ceramic
Ceramic crowns and bridges exhibit the best aesthetics and should be preferred. Especially zirconia ceramics show optimal results concerning gum attachment, preventing the formation of gum pockets and the infiltration of bacteria into the bone.
Even in simple ceramic crowns and bridges, all aspects of aesthetics, biology, anatomy, and function must be considered.
With our in-house dental laboratory, we can place zirconia ceramic crowns and bridges in one appointment. This eliminates the need for patients traveling from afar to make an additional trip.
Ceramic Inlays and Aesthetics
Ceramic fillings surpass traditional composite fillings in terms of health and aesthetics.
These ceramic fillings can be precisely and high-quality manufactured in the dental laboratory or with the CEREC system and placed on the same treatment day.
Amalgam Removal/Amalgam Sanitation
Amalgam, due to its biological compatibility and aesthetic disadvantages, should be removed under effective protective measures. After amalgam removal, teeth can be restored with laboratory-made ceramic inlays in one treatment session.
Orthodontics – Transparent Aligners
Orthodontics aims to rearrange teeth in a harmonious and anatomically correct arch, improving the smile and facial profile aesthetically. The function of the entire chewing system should be enhanced, not deteriorated, through orthodontics.
Many cases can be treated with transparent aligners (e.g. Invisalign®), allowing patients to avoid wearing visible appliances.
Unfortunately, we often observe that improperly planned and executed orthodontics can lead to functional issues in patients. Over time, individuals may develop various symptoms of CMD, necessitating a correctly performed treatment of their masticatory system.
Experienced Dental Technician
The dental technician restores the lost piece of the tooth in the laboratory and plays a crucial role in the treatment process. The manufactured piece can be an inlay, crown, or bridge, and it should integrate perfectly into the patient’s dentition in terms of color, structure, and form.
All functional characteristics, such as occlusal contacts, shape in relation to neighboring teeth, and surface texture, should be considered optimally.
Dentists and dental technicians should work seamlessly and know exactly what to consider to avoid weaknesses in the treatment and manufacturing chain.
The patient’s case should be planned jointly by dentists and dental technicians. Through close collaboration and short communication channels, errors in communication and execution can be minimized. Therefore, it is a significant advantage if the dental technician is located directly in the dental practice and can focus solely on the patients of the practice.
Dr. Artur Hein
A dental prosthesis should always be aesthetic and look absolutely natural. Our team will be happy to help you.

FAQ’s on Beautiful Teeth and Dental Aesthetics
Beautiful teeth are very important in today’s society and are part of a healthy and well-groomed appearance. As there are many uncertainties on this topic, we strive to answer your questions as best as we can.
An aesthetic smile may look healthy, but it does not mean that the person is actually healthy. Methods such as bleaching, veneers or crowns can be used to visually conceal diseased and inflamed teeth.
Yes, gingiva has the ability to grow along healthy tooth structure or zirconium ceramic and fill cavities again. However, this only happens as long as the jawbone in the area is intact and the gingiva is not prevented from growing by stimuli.
No, tooth color varies from person to person, so some people naturally have a dark tooth color. In today’s society, light-colored teeth tend to be associated with health and beauty. This is the reason why many people want teeth that are too light in color.
White spots on the enamel are difficult to cover with resin. If the stains bother the patient too much, thin ceramic veneers can be a suitable solution.
The best prophylaxis for permanently healthy teeth is a healthy bacterial flora in the oral cavity. Dental hygiene alone is not enough. For more detailed information, please contact our team.
In order to produce natural and attractive dentures, the dentist needs a lot of experience and a well-coordinated team of experts in oral surgery, TMJ and dental technology.
Further information
Here you will find further information on the subject for a deeper insight.