A smile can be an outward reflection of how we feel about ourselves. And, of course, as we evolve and change, sometimes that reflection needs to change as well.

A recent case illustrates this point vividly. My patient was in the beauty industry and had high esthetic demands. In addition, she wanted a social-media-ready solution that we could implement quickly. Her demands were threefold: She wanted to remove her gold shell crowns on #7 and 10, remove the diastema between #8 and 9, and brighten her overall smile.

Like so many patients who are eager for a quick result, she declined orthodontic treatment to close the diastema. That left me with the additional challenge of determining the correct proportions to provide natural looking teeth while absorbing those extra millimeters.

At first, I was hesitant. The diastema was large, and the patient’s high expectations and sense of urgency were a little intimidating. Thankfully, I knew the lab would support me as we determined the correct tooth proportions.

This patient had high demands and very specific requirements. Fortunately, with the laboratory team supporting me behind the scenes, I was able to provide the new smile she wanted. When you begin a case by communicating your patient’s needs to your lab, you can help your patients achieve that bold Hollywood smile every time.