Video calls, front-facing cameras, photos of every dinner. Many of us now see our own faces in motion far more than we used to, and the camera notices things a mirror politely hides. As a cosmetic dentist based in Los Angeles who takes one trip a month to our New York office, I design for that camera.
Why the camera sees what the mirror doesn’t
A mirror shows you a still, front-facing version of yourself, the face you have practiced for years. A camera catches you mid-sentence, from angles you don’t choose, in light you didn’t pick.
It shows the smile you make while talking, not the one you prepare. And it shows the version of your smile that other people actually see.
Designing for the lens, as a cosmetic dentist in New York
The camera isn’t distorting you. It is showing structure: worn edges, a corner that has dropped, a tilt against the line of your eyes. Those are things I can see in a photograph, and design for.
The smiles that look best on camera are rarely the whitest or the most dramatic. They are composed: proportioned to your face, balanced against its natural asymmetry, and colored for real light.
Photography is part of the plan from the start. We take photos at your consultation, and on insert day I photograph your new smile.
Bring the photo you don’t like
If the camera has been telling you something, bring the photo. It is a useful place to start the conversation at your ninety-minute consultation. I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office, so you can see me in either city.
Continue reading: Why a natural smile isn't perfectly symmetrical · Before and after smile transformations
Common questions
Why do my teeth look different on camera than in the mirror?
A camera catches you in motion, from angles and in light you don’t control. A mirror shows the face you have practiced.
Can veneers be designed to look good on camera?
Yes. Proportion, balance and natural color are what read well on camera.
What should I bring to a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in New York?
Bring any photos of your smile you don’t like. They show what you are seeing.
How often do you see patients in New York?
I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office.
This article is general information only and not a substitute for a personal exam and treatment plan from your own dentist.
Cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in Beverly Hills and New York since 2015. NYU College of Dentistry. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Stribe, where she has trained more than 1,000 dentists.
About Dr. Andi
