Dt. Zerrin Işık Tüfekçi, founder of Evrensel Oral and Dental Health Clinic, discusses she is she is most frequently asked as patients’ expectations regarding aesthetics in dentistry continue to rise.

Over the past two decades, patients’ aesthetic expectations in dentistry have evolved and increased more than ever before. Today, families still want their children’s teeth to be properly aligned, free of decay, and naturally beautiful – but many adults are now equally eager to enhance the appearance of their own teeth. Social media posts, clinical case examples, stories about celebrities’ teeth, and popular “before and after” photos have attracted great attention. Among the most common topics patients ask about today is smile design, the personalized planning of an aesthetically pleasing smile. 

Smile Design

Smile Design is a comprehensive treatment approach that focuses on harmonizing the patient’s smile line and the relationship between the lips and teeth to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing smile. At the beginning, the patient’s expectations are discussed – whether these expectations are realistic, what exact the patient needs, and what can be achieved through treatment. The customized smile design is presented to the patient either digitally or directly in the mouth before treatment begins. Together, it is decided whether adjustments to the gingival contour are necessary, whether teeth whitening will be performed, and whether orthodontic treatment – with clear aligners or conventional methods – is needed. Just as there are countless variations in tooth shape, size, alignment, and jaw structure, there are equally diverse patient expectations. Each case therefore requires an individualized treatment plan. These options are discussed in detail before treatment, allowing sufficient time for examination and explanation in a way that the patient can clearly understand. The process begins with taking photographs and videos of the patient. Based on this data, a digital smile design is created to visualize the most suitable aesthetic outcome. Impressions are then taken, and through a procedure called a mock-up, the patient can temporarily see the proposed smile in their own mouth. The goal of digital smile design is to achieve a harmonious and ideal smile – one in which the teeth are properly aligned, the front teeth are slightly more pronounced, there are no missing teeth, and the lips, teeth, gums, and facial features are balanced and in harmony. The perfect smile characterized by right, stain-free, and flawless-looking teeth.

With these treatments, the aim is to take a holistic approach to the smile and to offer each patient a uniquely personalized smile.

Hollywood Smile 

The Hollywood Smile is a special type of aesthetic smile design in which the teeth follow the natural curvature of the lips in a half-moon shape. The concept originated from the aesthetic preference of Hollywood celebrities, whose ideal smiles inspired this definition. The goal of this treatment is to achieve an ideal harmony between the lips, teeth, and gums. A Hollywood Smile is completed in several stages. First, the patient is examined to determine what is needed to achieve an aesthetically pleasing smile. In some cases, porcelain veneers may be applied. During porcelain veneer treatment, a minimum amount of enamel may be gently reduced; however, in certain cases, the veneers can be placed without any tooth reduction at all. For this reason, it is considered one of the most minimally invasive methods in aesthetic dentistry. After preparation, porcelain veneer – also referred to as laminates or lamina veneers – are applied to the front surfaces of the teeth, resulting in a whiter and smoother appearance. This technique is especially preferred for patients with minor misalignments, gaps between teeth, small or discolored teeth. It can also improve the aesthetic appearance of cracked or chipped teeth. Because these veneers are light-transmitting, they create a highly natural look, and their color stability over time is another major advantage of this method. 

Teeth Whitening (Bleaching) 

Teeth whitening is a treatment commonly offered as part of smile design or Hollywood smile procedures, but it is also suitable for patients who do not require such comprehensive aesthetic treatments yet are dissatisfied with toot color or suffer from significant discoloration. It is recommended that whitening be performed under the supervision of a dentist, either at home using professional-grade materials or directly in the dental clinic. This method is simple, safe, and delivers quick and noticeable results. Patients often report that having brighter and more evenly colored teeth makes them feel more confident and improves their overall sense of well-being. In addition to these treatments, other procedures can help achieve a more harmonious and balanced smile – such as lip fillers to align the lip contour with the teeth, masseter Botox to refine facial proportions and create a more feminine appearance, and gummy smile treatment for patients whose gums are prominently visible when smiling. Collaboration with specialists from other medical fields, particularly in facial aesthetics, enables a holistic approach – helping each patient achieve a smile that is uniquely tailored to them.