Dentistry trends evolving due to smartphone selfies

The craze for “selfies” is not just driving demand for teeth whitening and other cosmetic work, but is changing the types of smile patients are asking for, according to one of the country’s top dental practices.

Tim Bradstock-Smith, clinical director and cosmetic dentist at the London Smile Clinic, has recorded a dramatic increase in the number of people with complaints specific to selfies. He said, “The problem with a selfie is that the picture is taken quite closely, so the image can be distorted. Teeth often look more protruding than they are in real life and appear ‘horse-like’, which can also be emphasised by the unflattering light of the flash. As teeth are at the centre of the image, people are increasingly, and understandably, driven to make them look nicer. Whilst these photos will undeniably exaggerate defects, they can also be misleading. We have seen a 30% rise over five years in the number of patients sending in selfies through the website with concerns about the look of their front teeth, yet when the patients come in person, often the teeth don’t look too bad at all. We dissuade approximately two to three patients now each week from treatment and for many others will recommend simple alignment of front teeth with clear aligners instead of major intervention work – and we now even offer tips on taking better photos!”