How your smile feels
Bite, jaw comfort, tooth wear, and gum health can shape decisions about cosmetic and restorative care.
The Forma Method
Discover.
Understand.
Plan.
Your concerns, dental findings, and care options belong in one conversation. The Forma Method helps you understand the fuller picture before deciding on your next steps.
The Forma Method: A Fuller Picture of Your Health · 5:00
What if your dental visit helped you understand a fuller picture of your health? Join Dr. Nana Dickson for a five-minute introduction to the Forma Method at Allegra Dental Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
Prefer a shorter introduction? Watch the 2-minute overviewWhy this matters
Your smile goals.
Your oral health.
Considered together.
How your smile looks
Tooth and gum display, lip position, symmetry, and proportion help frame a discussion about the changes you want.
A clearer place to begin
Start with the questions that can shape your smile plan.
Use a personal report to compare your goals with the structure, function, appearance, and maintenance considerations that can shape a cosmetic decision.
Start with the decision in front of you:
Explore my smile priorities
Five questions. View your results without signing up.
How it works
From your first questions
to a plan.
Your concerns and findings
Discover
Start with what brings you in: a smile change, discomfort, tooth wear, or a question about your oral health. Dr. Dickson listens to your priorities and evaluates the relevant findings.
- Your goals and questions
- Dental findings
- Bite and jaw comfort
- Tooth and gum health
Clear explanations and options
Understand
Talk through what the findings may mean for your comfort, dental health, and smile. Ask how the care options relate to your goals and what needs attention before choosing a treatment.
- What the findings suggest
- Function and smile proportions
- Relevant care options
- Time for your questions
Priorities and next steps
Plan
Set priorities and next steps together, based on the evaluation. When cosmetic treatment is appropriate, discuss which options fit your needs and what should be addressed first.
- A plan connected to your goals
- Treatment suitability
- The order of care
- Ongoing care considerations
What shapes the conversation
Function, structure,
and aesthetics.
Within Discover, Understand, Plan, Dr. Dickson considers how your teeth and jaw work, the proportions of your smile, and the appearance you want. Discuss whether function or structure needs attention before cosmetic refinement, and which conservative options may suit your goals.
Planning considerationWhat you can discuss
FunctionHow your teeth meet, jaw comfort, tooth wear, and clenching concerns
StructureTooth and gum display, lip position, symmetry, and facial proportions
AestheticsThe shade, shape, and smile changes you would like to explore
Your prioritiesWhat matters to you and how the care options fit your needs
Real smile changes
Explore the possibilities.
See before-and-after Invisalign and veneer cases, then talk with your dentist about the options that fit your health and goals.
View Veneer Results
For patients who expect more