Nichols Smile Score

1. Facial Profile + Lip Volume

We address skeletal imbalances through orthopedic correction to ensure a full and straight profile with adequate support for soft tissues. These efforts result in creating a profile that not only maximizes aesthetic beauty and harmony but also improves airway function by correcting skeletal imbalances. Additionally, enhancing tissue support contributes to a more youthful appearance, ensuring long-term benefits for the patient.

2. Alignment + Contact

We ensure that all teeth are straight and that any spaces are closed. These efforts not only improve confidence by aligning crooked teeth and closing spaces but also enhance oral hygiene, and reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

3. Smile Width

We focus on achieving a broad smile that extends from one corner of the mouth to the other, ensuring the teeth fill the mouth optimally. These efforts not only provide better support for the cheeks, preventing a sunken or aged look but also contribute significantly to a more attractive appearance overall.

4. Smile Arc

We ensure that the bottom edges of the upper teeth align with the lower lip line, while the top portions follow the upper lip line. These efforts result in the creation of a more personalized and dynamic smile that showcases only beautiful teeth.

5. Upper Tooth Position

We ensure a 100% display of the front teeth with only 1-2 mm of gum show and maintain an ideal angle where the teeth are neither leaning backward nor too far forward. These efforts ensure that the smile is not distracted by excessive gum tissue or flared teeth, creating an authentic and confident smile without the appearance of gummy smiles.

6. Midlines

Aligning both the upper and lower midlines with your facial center ensures your smile fits perfectly with your facial structure, emphasizing symmetry and enhancing the overall appearance of your smile.

7. Occlusion

This involves ensuring that the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth as they should, maintaining an ideal overbite, and ensuring that all teeth touch and support one another. These factors not only prevent excessive wear, chipping, or fractures of the teeth but also allow for more efficient chewing and lower the risk of jaw pain.

8. Tooth Shape + Proportion

We achieve natural-looking teeth with ideal heights and widths, ensuring they appear symmetrical and youthful. These efforts result in teeth that appear symmetrical, youthful, and akin to fine jewelry, reflecting light beautifully.

9. Gum Display + Shape

Optimal gum height and width, along with correctly sized teeth, are crucial.  These efforts result in the removal of excess and unhealthy tissue, ensuring that beautiful teeth are not hidden by extra gums.

 

10. Tooth Color

The color of your teeth can really make a difference in your smile. Ensuring that your teeth are white and free from spots or stains enhances the vibrancy and glow of your smile, leaving a lasting impression of brilliance.

 

(Bonus) Airway

Our Airway treatments focus on a singular end goal: improving breathing. If you are struggling to breathe we can identify where the problem is, why it’s happening, and what we need to do in order to fix it. We specifically look at your airway volume so we can identify the minimum/maximum constricted area.

 

Appliances Used

Damon Braces


The Damon Bracket System is a self-ligating orthodontic treatment that uses advanced brackets and light wires to move teeth more efficiently and comfortably than traditional braces. Its slide mechanism reduces friction, allowing smoother adjustments and often shorter treatment times. This system also promotes broader smiles and often avoids extractions, enhancing facial aesthetics.

Spark Aligners

 

Spark Aligners are a clear aligner system designed to straighten teeth discreetly and comfortably. Made from TruGEN™, a proprietary material, they offer greater clarity, stain resistance, and comfort compared to other aligners. Spark aligners are custom-made and provide precise, effective treatment for a range of orthodontic issues, often with shorter treatment times.

Tongue Tamers

Tongue Tamers or Habit Tamers are usually used behind two of your lower front teeth. They look like mini spikes that help to subconsciously train and remind your tongue to use the roof of your mouth to swallow instead of pushing against your teeth.

TAD's (Temporary Anchorage Devices)

“TAD” stands for “temporary anchorage device,” and they work by placing biocompatible titanium alloy mini-screws into certain places in the mouth to serve as a fixed point that can be used to direct and shift teeth.

Palate Expanders

Palate expanders are non-surgical and non-invasive. They work by gently applying pressure to the palate bones, encouraging them to grow wider. It is an oral device used to widen a narrow upper jaw. It fits in the roof of your mouth and gradually moves both halves of your jawbone apart. Palate expanders are most commonly used in children. But teens and adults can have them, too.

Herbst Appliance

Corrects bite discrepancies, such as an overbite, by moving the lower jaw forward and putting backward pressure on the upper jaw. Attaches to the back molars on both sides of the upper and lower jaws, and uses a telescoping mechanism to apply gentle force.

Face Mask

This appliance is generally used to correct an underbite. It gently pulls the upper jaw forward (instead of back), which allows it to catch up with the lower jaw.

Bite Turbos

Bite turbos, also known as bite ramps or bite blocks, are orthodontic devices that help move teeth into the correct position. They are typically used in conjunction with braces and are attached to the teeth to prevent the upper and lower teeth from fully coming together.

Retainers

Retainers prevent teeth from shifting back to their original position after braces are removed. They can also help teeth settle into place while the bone strengthens. 

Schedule a Consultation

Want to know what your Smile Score is? Set up an appointment with us now and we’ll score your smile and create a personalized treatment just for you so you can have the perfect smile!