Esthetics and the brain

When I was presenting cosmetic periodontal techniques in Sicily, Italy, at a congress dedicated to esthetics in dentistry, Dr DeLucca, an exquisite prosthodontist with exceptional esthetic prosthetic results, brought up factors and questions regarding the effects of esthetics from the right and left sides of the brain as well as the male/female dominance in their respective spheres.

The brain has been relegated to different functions on its left and right side in several factors. The right side is said to be more analytical, more detailed, as well as more scientific, mathematical, computeristic, logical and analytical. In general, the right side is usually related to males.

The left side of the brain is, in general, attributed to the female gender. Its characteristics are said to be non-verbal, intentional, emotional, excellence in spacial relationships, and good color perception.

In the past 20 plus years of dentistry, esthetics has changed the face of the profession. This is not meant to be a pun but an actual fact. The desire by patients to electively choose to have dentistry is a huge leap from its image of yesteryear. Not relying on motivation from pain or trauma, patients are eagerly trying to improve their appearance orally. A wonderful bright smile can light up the face and the public is now aware of this fact.

At about the same time that cosmetic improvement was encouraged by our profession, the profile of the dental school population started to change. The number of female dental students became more predominant than ever before in the United States. Was this the left side of the brain making its mark?

The initiating pioneers in the dental esthetic field, Dr Irwin Smigel and Dr Ron Goldstein, forged awareness to the public as well as dentists, and encouraged the patient to request looking better orally. In turn, they encouraged the dentist to provide the services that stimulated dental companies to research and provide better esthetically appearing, yet formidable, restorative materials. Did it take these pioneers the use of the right side of their brain to forge this field of esthetics?

In other countries throughout the world, the number of female dental school graduates has been higher than males for years. In addition, 85 per cent is the common percentage of female dentists practicing in many such countries. In the U.S., that number hovers at about 50 per cent.

Does the right side of the brain dominate our field with the necessary precision that is demanded? Have the materials in dentistry today improved so much that there is compensation in techniques to allow the left side of the brain’s activity to transcend and emit an esthetic sensitivity for the patient’s appearance? Can the individual dentist utilize the left and right side of his or her brain as noted in today’s terminology by the expression 'crossover'?

Will the economic turmoil of today affect the demand by patients for cosmetic dentistry beyond the necessary health requirements? I know that for me to find the answer regarding the male/female, left and right brain relationships, I should smilingly have to ask my wife.

Contact info

Dr Hoexter can be reached at drdavidlh@aol.com.