Smile Makeover
A smile makeover is a series of cosmetic dental procedures used to enhance the appearance of your smile. Each person has a different idea of what their perfect smile looks like. Here are a few reasons why you might want to seek a smile makeover:
- Some patients want to straighten their crooked teeth or close unsightly gaps
- Some want to fix their broken or discolored teeth
- Others want to reverse the wear-and-tear on their teeth and rejuvenate their smile
Your smile makeover should be customized according to your specific needs. The result is a brand new smile with teeth that sparkle and shine! Getting a smile makeover will boost your self-confidence and make you fall in love with your smile again.
What are the most common dental treatments involved in a smile makeover?
Most people associate a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. While it’s true that porcelain veneers are commonly used in most smile makeover cases, there are many other procedures that assist your dentist in giving you the perfect smile. Here are examples of a few common dental treatments you may come across when receiving your smile makeover:
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are the treatment of choice to replace old, worn-down natural teeth with beautiful, white porcelain teeth. Cosmetic dentists love using porcelain veneers because they are conservative and natural-looking. Plus, porcelain veneers maintain their appearance over time. Most smile makeovers require 6 to 10 porcelain veneers in each arch (top or bottom), or basically 12 to 20 porcelain veneers when performing a full mouth smile makeover.
Dental bonding, inlays, onlays & crowns
These are a few other cosmetic methods used to restore damaged teeth. Dental bonding is a good choice to restore teeth with very minor cosmetic defects that don’t require a porcelain veneer. On the opposite hand, crowns, inlays, and onlays are used to restore teeth that are so badly damaged that porcelain veneers won’t properly protect your teeth. These types of restorations provide for additional tooth coverage to protect more severely damaged teeth.
Braces & clear aligners (Invisalign®)
Many times your dentist will use porcelain veneers to straighten slightly crooked teeth or close small gaps. However, sometimes you need to straighten your teeth before beautifying them. In these cases, you may have to resort to orthodontic treatments, like braces or Invisalign®, prior to completing your smile makeover.
Dental cleaning & gum treatment
Dental cleaning is the key to treating infected gums and reversing gingivitis and gum disease. This is why a thorough dental cleaning is almost always a part of any smile makeover. In fact, receiving a dental cleaning is usually the first step towards fixing your smile. Your gums are the foundation of your teeth, and you can’t achieve the perfect smile without having healthy gums!
Gum lift
Gum lift is another common procedure associated with many smile makeovers. The purpose of a gum lift is to remove excessive gum tissue surrounding your teeth. Performing a gum lift allows your dentist to place larger porcelain veneers on your teeth. This is used to reduce gummy smile appearance while at the same time, giving you larger, bolder looking front teeth. Gum lift is a rather simple procedure and is typically performed using laser.
Fillings, root canals, bridges & dental implants
You can’t forget about tooth decay when fixing your smile. Fixing cavities, infected teeth, and missing teeth is an essential part of every smile makeover. Your dentist may use fillings to restore cavities, root canals to treat infected teeth, or bridges and dental implants to replace your missing teeth.
Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening may be used to put the final touches on your smile makeover. Placing porcelain veneers on your teeth will make them look much whiter and brighter. This can create a contrast against your natural teeth, the ones that haven’t receive a veneer. A professional tooth whitening will make your natural teeth better match your porcelain veneer shade, and completes your smile transformation.
What should you look for when designing a new smile?
Designing a new smile is more than just making your teeth look straighter and whiter. Your new smile must fit the rest of your facial profile. Cosmetic dentists look at your lips, cheeks, jaw, chin, etc. to design the perfect smile specifically for you. There are many different things to consider when designing your new smile, for example:
Tooth color
Some patients want their teeth to be as white as possible. Others want their teeth to be white without looking like fake teeth. Your dentist will work with you to come up with a tooth color that works for you and your smile.
Tooth size
It’s not uncommon for patients undergoing a smile makeover to have suffered from a collapsed bite. A collapsed bite causes your teeth to become shorter than they used to be. Your dentist can fix the appearance of these worn-down teeth by opening up your bite or performing a gum lift, among other treatments.
Tooth shape
You can design your custom veneers to your exact liking. Choose shorter teeth with a rounded edge if you’re looking for a more feminine appearance. Choose bulkier square-shaped teeth if you prefer a more masculine look.
Teeth proportion
You can’t change the proportion of your teeth when placing one or two crowns or veneers. However, you can change the relative size of your teeth when placing multiple veneers. For example, your dentist can make a larger tooth appear smaller by increasing the size of its adjacent teeth. Your dentist will work with you to figure out teeth proportions that compliment your new smile.
Smile line
A smile line is an imaginary line that follows the edges of your upper teeth. Improving your smile line gives you a more proportionate and even smile. Your dentist may correct your smile line using braces, clear aligners, porcelain veneers, or a combination of different dental treatments.
How much does a smile makeover typically cost?
Smile makeovers are not cheap. On average, you’re looking at anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens-of-thousands of dollars for a complete smile makeover. Prices vary significantly based on where you choose to go and how much work you actually require. It’s not a good idea to look for the best bargain or the lowest prices when looking for a smile makeover. Your priority should be finding a reputable cosmetic dentist. One who has been part of the community with a great track record, especially when it comes to cosmetic procedures. Having dental insurance won’t help much either since most cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance.
Why are smile makeovers so expensive? Smile makeovers require lots and lots of work. Receiving Invsialign®, whitening your teeth, lifting your gums, and placing multiple veneers can add up quickly. Despite its high costs, most patients who receive a smile makeover are very happy with the final outcome. There are few things in life as transformative as having an attractive and beautiful smile. With a smile makeover, you can reverse 10, 20, or 30 years of damage and neglect to your teeth and gums. Luckily, most dentists who perform smile makeovers also offer plenty of different financing options to help you afford your smile transformation.
How do I find a cosmetic dentist for my smile makeover?
The first step to receiving a smile makeover is to find a highly skilled and reputable cosmetic dentist. The results of your smile transformation will vary significantly based on which dentist you choose. Be sure to do your research, look through their body of work, and find a great dentist who has the skills and experience to deliver the smile of your dreams. Click on the link below to use our dentist Search Engine to browse local dentists, read reviews, view treatment photos, and find a great cosmetic dentist today:
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