HFA teeth

NOTE ALL TEETH IMAGES CHOSEN TO BE AS THEY WERE BEFORE BRACES OR OTHER DENTAL WORK

* If a child has no teeth yet or only a few teeth SKIP THIS SECTION

* If a child has most of their baby teeth, rate the teeth as they appear

* If a child has lost some baby teeth and their second teeth have not grown in yet IGNORE GAPS

* If a child has SOME of their second teeth through and their front teeth look prominent choose AVERAGE for their front teeth – once most of the side teeth are established check the front teeth again for prominence by comparison to the side teeth

Only include the history of your teeth if the patient HAD WORK DONE TO CHANGE THEIR POSITION OR SHAPE

If the teeth have CHANGED NATURALLY include the shape/position they are NOW – not what they once were

CAUTION

Teeth are the most over analysed feature on the face, so it is prudent to only take what is OBVIOUS. For example, one crooked tooth or one sharp should not be judged to be the dominant appearance of the mouth. Always consider the entire look of the teeth and observe what is DOMINANT and OBVIOUS in its overall appearance. Consider all aspects of the teeth including

  • Size
  • Shape
  • Position
  • Bite
  • Edges
  • How they line up with one another

BLUE TEETH POINTS - REDUCTION

The online facial analysis wizard shows every possible variation of the shape of teeth that we have seen in the clinic. To ensure the rating (which is more commonly blue than yellow or red) doesn’t weight too heavily in favour of blue points, the point rating is reduced by one point where more than 2 blue points are given (excluding the bite). The bite represents the jaw alignment rather than the teeth. Apply this rule to all blue teeth points unless the points you are giving have evenly weighted - aspects of different colour groups - to them. Clinically we rarely give more than 2 blue points to teeth except when the bite is also blue in which case 3 blue points can occur.

SIZE OR PROMINENCE of the front two teeth (front on photo - smile)

Tips

  • Look at the front teeth only. They will be either average or more prominent (sitting forward, longer and/or larger) 
  • Many people have slightly larger front teeth however for one yellow point the larger front teeth must be distinctly larger. Look at the size of the teeth beside the front teeth – they will be either shorter in length or start at a considerably lower point in the gums – if this occurs the front teeth are prominent 
  • Prominent – the front two teeth may sit on an angle or in front of the line of the other teeth or have a ‘bucky’ appearance.
  • Another variation is where the 2 front teeth start much higher in the gums than the side teeth – giving them a larger appearance even though their edge is in line with the teeth beside them.

PRESENTATION of the teeth (front on photo full "grimace" smile)

Tips

  • Look at the presentation of the teeth – that is whether they are straight or crooked 
  • Use the presentation BEFORE BRACES OR PLATES 
  • Do not overdo each tooth. Look at the overall impression 
  • Look at anything striking or dominant. Only rate 1-3 blue aspects (excluding the bite which always gets a blue point where it is seen)

GAPS in the teeth (front on photo - full smile)

Tips

  • Look at whether there are gaps between the teeth 
  • Use the presentation BEFORE BRACES OR PLATES
  • Gaps can occur either as 
    • a single gap in the middle of the front teeth 
    • a gap to one side of the teeth 
    • numerous gaps across the teeth either top/bottom or both
  • It is common for children between the ages of five and ten to have one or more gaps because all their teeth are still coming through – this situation is non rating 
  • Check the teeth again when more teeth have come through (usually 10-12 years of age)

POSITION of the teeth (front on photo full "teeth showing" smile)

Tips

  • Look to see if any of the teeth cross over one another 
  • This is generally seen in the two front teeth but may occur with other teeth 
  • If you already have given 2 blue points for other more prominent blue teeth features leave this feature out eg it is common to have crooked, inward and crossed over teeth – just give 2 blue points not 3

SHAPE of the MAIN FRONT TEETH (front on photo – full "teeth showing" smile)

Tips

  • Look at the general shape of the edge of the main front teeth 
  • DO NOT choose jagged or cupped teeth if this is due to an accident – only if it is natural
    • Square – these types of teeth are not rated (in Appearance and Circumstance they were given 1 red point) because they are almost always seen with even teeth (angle section) which already gets 1 red point 
    • Slightly rounded – these types of teeth are very common so are unrated 
    • Cupped – the inward curve will be 1 blue point 
    • Jagged edges – not due to an accident – natural jaggedness is a crooked or blue feature

SHAPE of the EYETEETH (front on photo – full "teeth showing" smile)

Tips

  • Look at the eyeteeth. All eyeteeth are slightly pointed but this is not enough to rate 
  • Some people have very sharp, protruding, or longer eyeteeth which is 1 blue point – 2 eyeteeth or more
  • As blue teeth features are generally overrated both teeth must be pointed to get the blue point

ANGLE of the MAIN TEETH (front on photo – full "teeth showing" smile)

Tips

  • Look at the angle of the teeth. They may be vertical (mostly placed up/down in a vertical line), inward (either all teeth inward or just the back or bottom teeth inward) or slightly outward 
  • Vertical or slightly outward teeth are common and non-rated 
  • Where teeth are angled inward, this represents inward motion and will get 1 blue point. Sometimes all the teeth are inward – sometimes just the back teeth or the bottom row. Give one blue point for either of these examples – where a line of 4 or more teeth all go inwards on both sides (bottom or top)

BITE LINE UP of the TEETH WHEN CLOSED (front on photo - smiling and/or clench teeth to check)

Remember to consider the analysis BEFORE braces

Tips

  • Look at the bite of the teeth when they are closed 
  • A bite is even when the top teeth meet the bottom teeth with a slight overlap 
  • If the top teeth are well in front of the bottom teeth (approx 10mm or more) there is an overbite. Often the mouth won’t close properly or there is a swollen look to the upper lip area 
  • Some people have an under-bite, or their bottom lip protrudes beyond their top lip – this is seen on profile (the bite may or may not be even). 
  • An overbite, under-bite, under lip or cross bite, will always receive the 1 blue point. It is not included in the blue teeth instruction to reduce points.