[Targeting the smile: why don't we aim at the lips?]

INTRODUCTION: The smile is more than a question of well-aligned teeth. Harmonization of the dentition with the soft tissues is the key to a beautiful smile. This abundantly illustrated article looks more closely therefore at the lips and their movements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article begins by explicating the terminology relevant to the lips, then addresses the notions of volume, mobility and aging, and concludes by examining the orthodontic clinical dimension.

DISCUSSION: Practitioners must be fully informed when assessing requests for treatment formulated by adult patients and a detailed analysis must be made of the lips at rest and during functioning. Harmony of both the teeth and the soft tissues is indispensable to a beautiful smile. A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary.

CONCLUSION: Restoring the patient's smile therefore obliges the practitioner to think beyond mere problems of dental occlusion.