How We Design Veneers to Fit the Face, Not Just the Teeth
A beautiful smile does not exist in isolation. It lives in the context of a face, shaped by the width of the jaw, the curve of the lip, the height of the cheekbones, and the personality behind the eyes. Yet many patients in Newport Beach have experienced cosmetic dentistry that treated their smile as a standalone project, producing results that look technically flawless on a model but somehow wrong in the mirror.
At Newport Modern Dentistry, Dr. Michelle Farnoush approaches veneer design with a foundational belief: a smile should fit its face. That means analyzing the entire facial aesthetic, not just the teeth, before a single porcelain restoration is ever fabricated.
Quick Answer: Facial smile design is the process of planning veneers and cosmetic dental work based on the patient’s unique facial proportions, lip position, midline, and overall esthetic harmony. Rather than designing teeth in isolation, this approach ensures that the final smile looks natural, balanced, and genuinely personal, not generic or artificial.
Why Teeth Alone Are Not Enough to Design a Smile
Traditional cosmetic treatment planning often starts and ends with the teeth. This approach misses something important: the teeth are only one component of facial esthetics. The elements that define a beautiful smile include:
- The relationship between the upper lip and the incisal edge of the front teeth
- The gingival line and how it frames the teeth at rest and during smiling
- The dental midline and whether it aligns with the facial midline
- The smile arc, the curvature of the upper teeth in relation to the lower lip
- The buccal corridor, the visible space between the back teeth and the corners of the mouth
- Tooth proportions relative to each other and to the width of the face
- The incisal plane and how it relates to the horizon when the patient speaks and smiles
Designing veneers without accounting for all of these factors produces results that may look beautiful in a dental textbook but appear overdone, too white, too big, or simply unnatural in the context of a real face.
The Facial Proportion Framework Dr. Farnoush Uses
Dr. Farnoush’s approach draws on principles from cosmetic surgery, facial esthetics, and art, not just dentistry. The process begins long before any preparation or impression is taken.
Step 1: Comprehensive Facial Analysis
The first step is a full facial analysis, including frontal and profile photography, still and animated smile photography, and video recording of the patient speaking. This allows Dr. Farnoush to observe how the smile behaves dynamically, not just in a static open-mouth position. She evaluates lip support, gingival display, lip line, and facial symmetry.
Step 2: Digital Smile Design and Wax Mock-Up
Using digital smile design software, Dr. Farnoush can superimpose a proposed smile over the patient’s actual facial photographs. In many cases, a physical wax mock-up is also created, a temporary trial smile that the patient can wear home to evaluate in their own environment. This converts an abstract proposal into a lived, tangible experience.
Step 3: Evaluating the Bite and Function
No cosmetic treatment plan at Newport Modern Dentistry is finalized without a thorough functional evaluation. Dr. Farnoush analyzes the patient’s bite, jaw position, and occlusal contacts before finalizing any veneer dimensions. A beautiful smile that undermines the bite is not a successful outcome. This is why her training at the Kois Center for Advanced Education, which emphasizes functional occlusal analysis, is so relevant to cosmetic cases.
Step 4: Collaboration with a Master Ceramist
The final veneers are fabricated by a skilled ceramist working from detailed instructions, photographs, and shade guides that reflect not just the desired color but the desired translucency, surface texture, and characterization. Skilled ceramists can reproduce the depth, variation, and character of natural teeth in porcelain, but only when the dentist provides the right input. This collaboration is what separates a smile that looks natural from one that looks like a cosmetic procedure.
What Makes Smile Design Look Natural vs. Overdone
The most common criticism of celebrity-style smiles is that they look fake, too white, too uniform, too perfect. This happens when veneers are designed to maximize an idealized esthetic standard rather than harmonize with the individual. Natural-looking veneers share several characteristics:
- They are proportional to the face, not so large that they overwhelm or so small that they disappear
- They incorporate subtle variation in shade and translucency to mimic real tooth structure
- They follow the patient’s natural smile arc rather than imposing an unnatural one
- They respect the existing gum line rather than dramatically altering it without reason
- They account for the patient’s lip position and tooth display at rest, not just during a full smile
Dr. Farnoush frequently consults patients who request a specific celebrity’s smile. The honest answer is that a smile designed for one face does not translate to another. The goal is to create the best version of your smile, one that enhances your individual features rather than replacing them with something generic.
Getting Smile-Designed Veneers in Newport Beach
Newport Beach and broader Orange County patients are sophisticated consumers who have often done extensive research before their first consultation. Newport Modern Dentistry at 1617 Westcliff Drive offers a concierge experience that begins with a detailed consultation and never rushes past the planning phase. Virtual consultations are available for patients who want to begin the conversation remotely.
Why Patients in Newport Beach Choose Dr. Farnoush for Smile Design
Dr. Farnoush’s background is uniquely suited to facial smile design. Her undergraduate studies in kinesiology and physiology at McGill University, combined with graduate training in human nutrition at Columbia University, give her an unusually broad scientific foundation. Her dental training at UNLV was followed by advanced certification in facial esthetics and mastership training in biomimetic dentistry.
She also holds certification in neuromodulators such as Botox, which allows her to address lip lines, gummy smiles, and perioral aesthetics as part of a comprehensive facial treatment. Her national recognition in Incisal Edge Magazine as one of the USA’s Top 40-Under-40 Dentists reflects her expertise, bringing patients from throughout Southern California to her Newport Beach practice.
Cost of Custom Smile Design and Veneers in Newport Beach
Custom smile design with full facial analysis is a more involved process than a standard consultation, and the investment reflects that. Patients should view this in the context of longevity. A well-designed smile that functions correctly and harmonizes with the face will last significantly longer than one that was rushed. The cost of revision work to correct an overdone or functionally problematic smile is almost always greater than the cost of doing it correctly the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is smile design?
Smile design is a planning process that combines dental expertise, digital technology, and esthetic principles to plan cosmetic dental work based on the patient’s unique facial proportions, lip position, and natural features. It ensures results look natural and personalized.
How long does the smile design process take?
The planning phase typically involves one to two consultation visits before treatment begins. Digital design and wax mock-ups can often be completed within a few weeks, depending on case complexity.
Can you fix an existing smile that looks overdone?
Yes. Dr. Farnoush has specific expertise in redesigning and revising existing veneers that are too white, too large, or otherwise aesthetically off. This often involves replacing restorations with veneers designed according to principles of proper facial proportions.
Is smile design only for veneers?
No. Smile design principles apply to any cosmetic work, including composite bonding, Invisalign, gum recontouring, and crown placement. The goal is always to ensure the final result harmonizes with the face, regardless of the specific treatment.
What technology is used for smile design at Newport Modern Dentistry?
Dr. Farnoush uses digital photography, video analysis, digital smile design software, and physical wax mock-ups. The practice uses CAD/CAM technology through a KOL partnership with Dentsply Sirona for precision digital workflows.
How do I schedule a smile design consultation in Newport Beach?
Call Newport Modern Dentistry at 949-764-0122 or request a virtual consultation online. The practice offers both in-person and virtual consultations for patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, and beyond.
Schedule Your Smile Design Consultation
If you are ready to explore what a custom-designed smile could look like for your face, Dr. Farnoush is ready to help. Visit us at 1617 Westcliff Dr, Suite 204, Newport Beach, CA 92660, or call 949-764-0122.
