A simulation illustrating the use of Invisalign ® to create a smile makeover for Condoleezza Rice.

Dental History: Dr. Rice's smile is a well-known one. It's salient feature is the gap (diastema) that lies between her two center teeth. From a dental-health standpoint the presence of this type of tooth gap is a non-issue. Neither leaving it nor closing it would be expected to have any impact on the long-term outlook for the health of her teeth.
     From a standpoint of cosmetic appearance, some people might feel that the presence of her diastema detracts from the beauty of her smile. This would be a personal preference and no doubt one that Dr. Rice has already weighed. Having said that, we have illustrated how her smile would appear if the space were closed.

The Cosmetic Dentistry: Our simulation suggests the type of change that orthodontic treatment could make for Dr. Rice. The idea is that the overall color and shape of her teeth is quite pleasing, it's just the alignment that might be improved.
     There is an orthodontic technique that involves the use of removable clear aligners, one brand being Invisalign ®. The idea is that orthodontic changes can be made, without the need for the obtrusive brackets and wires associated with traditional braces. Of course, only Dr. Rice and her dentist could determine if this would be an appropriate course of treatment for her.