A smile makeover is a process of improving ones smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening, veneers, white fillings, Lumineers, crowns, dental caps, or bridges.
A smile makeover will restore chipped, cracked, or discolored teeth, restore your bite, and return the muscles that control your jaw movement to their natural position.
The goal of a smile makeover is to improve your smile by taking into consideration your facial appearance, skin tone, hair color, teeth, gum tissue and lips to develop your ideal smile.
Smile makeovers are customized according to your unique considerations and you and your cosmetic dentist will discuss what you want your smile to look like as well the things that you currently don’t like about your smile.
Tooth decay, staining, discolored teeth and slight shifting are all inevitable causes that are unfortunate but can generally be remedied in a few short visits.
What Can a Smile Makeover Remedy?
A smile makeover is a comprehensive cosmetic dentistry process of improving the appearance of the smile and is essentially something that you chose to have performed.
Usually, the question you will be posed with is “what don’t you like about your smile?” Discussing these aspects will give your dentist a clear idea of what they can do to improve including some of the following:
Tooth Color: If you suffer from discolored teeth as a result of aging, your food or drink diet, or various other yellowing factors, a smile makeover can restore your teeth’s appearance.
Teeth whitening can improve the color of stained teeth or if more specialized treatments are needed you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers, Lumineers, crowns, or dental implants.
Alignment: Teeth that are misaligned can be straightened and properly aligned through orthodontics like Invisalign or may be improved with veneers.
Spacing: Teeth that have gaps between them may be aligned properly with a variety of cosmetic dentistry solutions.
Missing Teeth: Missing teeth are unsightly hindrances that affect the appearance of your smile. They can be replaced with dental implants or bridges.
Chipped, Cracked, or Uneven Teeth: Teeth that are chipped, cracked, or uneven can be cosmetically bonded with veneers or Lumineers to improve appearance.
Unshapely Face: Through the use of modern technologies, an unshapely or aging face can be improved or rejuvenated with certain cosmetic dentistry procedures for fuller lips, cheeks, and smile.
Tooth Length: The effects of aging and everyday wear and tear can detract from a youthful appearance.
A smile makeover treatment for shorter teeth may include the reshaping and lengthening of the two front central teeth with composite bonding or porcelain veneers.
Tooth Proportions: A balanced smile gives the appearance of proper proportion and good oral health.
Your dentist will work with you to design a treatment plan that enhances your teeth’s esthetics and gives you a beautifully balanced smile line.
Smile Makeover Treatment
Before your smile makeover plan is developed your cosmetic dentist must first evaluate the condition of your oral health.
There is no one set of rules for a smile makeover, they are highly involved procedures and must be customized to individual circumstances.
Your cosmetic dentist will evaluate your teeth, gums, underlying support structure and bite (occlusion) to determine candidacy for a smile makeover.
If you have any previous oral health problems they will need to be addressed prior to your smile makeover treatment.
Many cosmetic dentists are utilizing advancements in technology to give patients previews of what they can expect from their smile makeover.
There are imaging software technologies available that can give the patient an idea of what they might look like when the makeover is complete.
In addition to computer software, it is recommended that you request before and after photos of previous recipients of smile makeovers so you can get a good idea of the type of work your cosmetic dentist performs.
Smile Makeover Cost
The cost of a smile makeover will vary depending on the type of treatment necessary to fulfill your goals.
As they are custom to each individual recipient, your cosmetic dentist can give you an idea of what it may cost after performing an extensive evaluation of your smile.
Any problematic oral health issues that need to be addressed before the smile makeover may lead to increased costs, although they will be necessary for a successful procedure.
Your dental insurance provider may be able to cover some of the costs associated with restorative dental procedures so you should always consult with them before entering into treatment.