Smile Patterns

Looking at your smile pattern helps us to better identify, understand and discuss your smile by breaking it down into classifications.

Smile Styles | Smile Stages | Smile Types

Smile Styles

Although there are millions of different smiles, three basic smile patterns can be identified:

The Commissure Smile

67% of the population exhibit the commissure smile, making it the most common smile pattern. In this smile, the corners of the mouth are first pulled up and outward, followed by the contraction of the levators (muscles that raise the upper lip) to show the upper teeth.

Celebrities with recognizable commissure smiles include: Dennis Quaid, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Lee Curtis and Mel Gibson.

The Cuspid Smile

31% of the population exhibit the cuspid smile. This smile pattern is commonly associated with the shape of the lips visualized as a diamond. The levator labbi superiorois is dominant. They contract first, exposing the cuspid teeth, then the corners of the mouth contract to pull the lips upward and outward. However, the corners of the mouth are often inferior to the height of the lip above the maxillary cuspids.

Celebrities with recognizable cuspid smiles include: Elvis Presley, Tiger Woods, Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone and Tom Cruise.

The Complex Smile

2% of the population have a complex smile. The shape of the lips are often illustrated as two parallel chevrons. The levators of the upper lip, the levators of the corners of the mouth, and the depressors of the lower lip contract at the same time, displaying all the upper and lower teeth simultaneously. A key characteristic of the complex smile is the strong muscular pull and retraction of the lower lip downward and back.

Celebrities with recognizable complex smiles include: Julia Roberts, Marilyn Monroe, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie.

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Smile Stages

Although the basis for smile styles is neuromuscular, often an individual's smile has been programmed by habit and can usually employ all smile patterns. By restoring the smile, we can give individuals new confidence and can often change their neuromuscular programming.

The smile cycle consists of four stages:

As previously mentioned, smiles vary and are unique to each individual. Many smiles do not differ much from a natural smile (Stage III) to an expanded smile (Stage IV). In these cases, treatment can often be restricted to the maxillary or mandibular anterior front six teeth. On the other hand, some smiles have a very apparent discrepancy in display between these two stages, in which case, the treatment plan to aesthetically improve the smile must be extended.

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Smiles Types

There are five variations in which dental and/or periodontal tissues are displayed in the smile zone:

For the most part, individuals will be categorized under a single type, although it is possible to combine types, if necessary.

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Style, stage and type as detailed above can together provide a complete, easy and concise description for smile classification. For example, the most common smile is a commissure smile, stage III, type 1.

However, oftentimes individuals can vary their neuromuscular smile patterns by having a very animated lip pattern, which is most often seen as the smile pattern goes from a restricted Stage III to a fully expanded Stage IV smile (see example below).

Example of varying smile patterns
Commissure Smile Stage III Type 1	Complex Smile Stage IV Type 4

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Reference:
Philips, Edward (BA, DDS), The Classification of Smile Patterns, J Can Dent Assoc 1999; 65:252-4.

Learn more about Smile Principles and visit our own 
Smile Gallery of sample patient treatment.