Manrina Rhode explores the reasons behind trends towards natural smile design over textbook ‘perfect’ teeth in 2026.
Over the past year there has been increasing discussion across social media and in the mainstream press about a shift in cosmetic dentistry towards more natural, individualised smiles. From my perspective as a cosmetic dentist for over 20 years, this is not simply an aesthetic trend driven by Instagram, but a reflection of an overall change in how some patients perceive beauty.
‘Patients want their teeth to look like their teeth – just healthier, brighter and more refined’
Traditionally, cosmetic dentistry was closely associated with uniformity: straight, bright, symmetrical teeth that signalled a clearly enhanced smile. While that look still has its place, many patients now arrive at consultations asking for something different. Increasingly, patients want their teeth to look like their teeth – just healthier, brighter and more refined.
Natural smiles in the media
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