Page 30 - Amazing Smiles

CHAPTER TWO figure 25
figure 25b
Finally, no discussion about cosmetic
dentistry would be complete without mentioning
the “golden proportion”. The golden proportion
was identified during the time of ancient Greece.
It was discovered when visualizing many objects in
nature that there seemed to be a logical relation-
ship or constant proportion between those
objects that could be measured. Interestingly, in
mathematics and science, those same proportions
could be found over and over again. This propor-
tional measurement led to the discovery of the
golden proportion. Simply stated, the golden
proportion is the proportion between two objects
or parts of an object that can be measured and
always seem to be in the same mathematical
proportion. Besides being measurable and repeti-
tious, objects in the golden proportion seem to be
visually appealing. When two objects are in the
golden proportion the larger one is 1.618 times
the size of the smaller one. The measurements of
the golden proportion can be measured on a
gauge specifically designed for this purpose,
appropriately called the golden proportion gauge.
(figure 25)

This formula can be seen in all of biology
and throughout nature. Since it was discovered, it
has been used by architects and designers
throughout the ages. (figure 25b)

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