Page 24 - Amazing Smiles

CHAPTER TWO

Rounded Square Tapered

As mentioned earlier, teeth are arranged on figure 14
either the maxillary arch or the mandibular arch.

The form and shapes of these arches can
vary as well. The arch can be oval or rounded,
square or tapered. (figure 14) These individually
shaped arches can also be wide, average or nar-
row.

The shape and width of the arch will affect
how the teeth and smile look when viewed from
the front of the face. Besides affecting the overall
look of a smile, the width of the arches will partic-
ularly affect the appearance of the corners of the
mouth. Looking closely at a smile, it is noticeable
that the average smile has a slight triangular shadow
between the posterior teeth and the corners of
the mouth. This is called the buccal corridor. In
the same size and shaped mouths, the arch form
and size can create three completely different
looks. In some mouths, the arch form is very wide
creating a broad full smile and little buccal
corridor. This creates a very “toothy” look or
“wide smile.” (figure15)

figure 15

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