The importance of facial esthetics to the practice of orthodontics has its origins at the beginning of our specialty. Traditionally, dentists have focused on restoring health and functional elements of the dentition. Contemporary smile design is a relatively new concept and techniques and philosophies are constantly evolving. To optimize dental smile esthetics, it is imperative that the modern-day clinician appreciates the components of a smile so that improvements can be made. This requires an understanding of the intricate relationship between the teeth, the gingival scaffold, and the lips. With the advances in modern restorative techniques and orthodontics, it is possible to create optimal smile esthetics, assuming that the components of the smile are understood.