Lip Fillers reduce need for Cosmetic Dentists?

Nov. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- Dr. Michael Zuk says that due to a number of processes related to age, the upper teeth show less over time, and patients that use too much lip filler may actually 'age' their smile even more. The use of lip fillers plump the lips and results in the further reduction of the visibility of the upper teeth, producing a 'toothless grin' in extreme cases.

The lips may look better, but a smile that doesn't show upper teeth is associated with age. This fact then suggests that there is a trade-off of an improvement in one area and at the expense of another. This could be addressed by cosmetic dentists who believe in lengthening the teeth to a certain amount so they show below the upper lip.

"This whole idea of chasing the lip with veneers can be expensive and lead to abuse", says Dr. Zuk. There is a school of thought that has some cosmetic dentists making teeth longer than nature ever intended, and if they are trying to keep up with overly enhanced lips from the plastic surgeons he feels this is a game that needs to be carefully considered.

It is rare to have a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic dentist/orthodontist work closely together. Each practitioner is often focused on a different feature and therefore the result can be a disaster. "My opinion would be it would be best to involve a number of cosmetic practitioners in the discussion before starting any procedure, since in some cases if you value the looks of your lips more than your teeth you may be able to skip the dental work. Why veneer your teeth if your teeth don't even show when you speak or smile...if you are paralyzed with Botox then this compounds the situation even more," says the controversial author.

Some of the common lip fillers are Restylane & Juvederm, while other treatments may be falling out of favor due to the higher risks of complications. In some areas, dentists are licensed to be able to provide lip enhancement procedures and in this way a cosmetic dentist would be able to balance the pros and cons of a combination treatment. While this would cut the plastic surgeon out of the equation it may be something to consider.

The bottom line is there may be a balance between teeth and lips that has not been considered carefully enough by cosmetic health practitioners. The net result is your lower teeth may be the ones you need to enhance if your plumped lips end up hiding your upper teeth (sometimes referred to as the 'social six', by dental practitioners who are sometimes overly focused on these specific members of the human dentition).

Lisa Rinna is the celebrity most articles refer to when discussing the topic of lip enhancement. The actress can be found on twitter if interested in knowing how she feels about the subject: http://twitter.com/#!/LISARINNA

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Michael Zuk DDS is the author of the book 'Confessions of a Former Cosmetic Dentist' which explores the reasons why aggressive aesthetic dental care, in the form of Extreme Smile Makeovers, may exploit patients and damage healthy teeth. His website may be found at http://www.confessionsofaformercosmeticdentist.com.