HFA smile

INTERNAL SHAPE (front on photo - smile)

This area is the point where the teeth end (remember to be aware of teeth that have been removed) and the inner edge of the end point of the mouth when smiling.

Tips

  • Look at the dental arch and how far the teeth extend within the mouth. The smile will be rated as either average, compact, or full 
  • Average – there will be a small amount of shadow between the edge of the teeth and the inner part of the lips (corners of mouth) when smiling 
    • Compact – there will be a larger amount of shadow between the edge of the teeth and the inner part of the lips (corners of mouth) when smiling 
    • Full – the teeth will extend to the edge of the inner lips (corners of mouth)
  • Look at this image in person – pull a big smile 
  • Photos often show a full smile even when it isn’t full because the flash brightens the shadows of an average or compact smile 
  • Take a photo of the smile without a flash – you are more likely to see a true image of this feature

Photo image with flash = true rating (seen in person - no flash or outdoors)

  • Compact = Compact
  • Average = Compact
  • Full = Average
  • Full = Full

SIZE of the mouth when smiling (front on photo - smile)

Tips

  • Look at the size of the mouth on smiling 
  • If it is very wide and stretches to beneath the cheekbones or beyond, it is wide 
  • If it is less than this, it is average 
  • This feature is not common

Gums

APPEARANCE of the gums on smiling (front on photo - smile)

Tips

  • This feature will show on full natural smiles rather than small smiles 
  • Many patients only give a small smile for the camera 
  • Ask them to give the LARGEST smile they can even if it feels false – they will generally laugh when they smile, and you will clearly see if their gums show or not.