We don’t mind the gaps... Britain leads trend for a natural smile

Demand for impossibly even film-star teeth has dropped by half, according to figures published by the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

In a victory for British teeth — often looked down on by our American counterparts — a survey to be published tomorrow at the academy's annual conference will show that two thirds of its members have seen a big decline in clients wanting "extreme" smiles.

Instead, people now want to preserve the individual character of their teeth so are shunning invasive dental treatments which involve the teeth being filed down or removed.

For the first time, US dentists are also travelling to Britain to learn about techniques which allow the smile to "fit in" with the natural features of the face.

These techniques include gum sculpting to fix "gummy" smiles, in which a laser is used to remove excess skin covering the teeth. Also popular are "speedy" braces which can realign teeth within a few months without drilling or injections.

Singer Cheryl Cole is reported to be among celebrities opting for subtle treatments such as braces which are effectively invisible. Model Lara Stone has also made a less-than-perfect smile a must-have fashion accessory with her gap teeth.

Nik Sisodia, BACD president-elect, said techniques pioneered in the UK are now being copied around the world and that British teeth are no longer so widely ridiculed.

He said: "US dentistry was always seen to lead the way with regard to cosmetic and restorative treatment, whereas UK dentistry didn't have a great image in some countries around the world. But UK and European patients actually want smiles that fit in with the natural features of the face. The face of cosmetic dentistry is changing dramatically in great part due to simple aligning techniques pioneered in the UK."

Until now, there has been a dental divide between Europe and the US. The formula favoured by American dentists is a perfect ratio of tooth length to width, the relative position of teeth to one another and to the lips as well as tooth brightness. But this has led to patients being over-treated and ending up with similar smiles involving irreversible dental work. In some cases, budget dentists have used inferior quality veneers mass-produced to a uniform shape.

The academy says this has led to a backlash with a move towards the "European aesthetic" featuring mild mis-alignment or slightly unruly ratios of tooth width to tooth height.