Smile Makeovers – The Basics

For many dental patients, getting a movie star smile – or even an everyday bright smile – takes more than simple brushing and flossing.  Thanks to dental technology advancements, you can have a runway-ready smile through a cosmetic dentistry smile makeover.  

The smile makeover procedure

Several of the procedures that dentists do to your teeth can be considered a smile makeover.  Often, smile makeovers are a combination of procedures, such as straightening teeth, repairing a chipped or broken tooth, replacing missing teeth, re-contouring gums, whitening discolored teeth, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures.  

The goal of smile makeovers is to give the patient a smile that is brighter, whiter, and more even.  This can be done through a variety of procedures, though some of the most commonly used ones involve the use of veneers, crowns, and onlays.  These procedures allow cosmetic dentists to perform smile makeovers with dramatic results in a relatively small amount of time.

What your cosmetic dentist does

When a dentist and a patient decide that smile makeovers are the best option to improve the look of the mouth and smile, a series of steps must take place.  First, the patient and dentist will have a consultation to decide the results they want to achieve.  The dentist then will make a mold of the patient’s existing teeth to create a model of the smile makeover results.  This allows patients to make adjustments to the smile makeovers before the results become permanent.  The new teeth are then ordered from the lab.  These are then placed by the dentist at a second appointment through a special bonding process.
The technology involved in a smile makeover
Dentists will use a variety of different tools and technologies to help design smile makeovers. An intraoral camera takes images of the teeth so that the dentist can evaluate the needs of the patient on a tooth by tooth basis.  Digital imaging allows the dentist to then give patients previews of smile makeover results.  A soft tissue laser may be used to help with gum re-contouring.
For anesthesia, a wand may be used so that dosages are given by a computer, eliminating any human error.  Lastly, dentists will use computerized jaw tracking and bite analysis systems to make sure that all of the parts of the smile makeovers are functioning properly and that your final bite is in good alignment for proper wear and comfort.

What to expect afterwards

Smile makeovers do require a bit of recovery time, similar to any other dental procedure. Gum tenderness is normal for the first few days after the smile makeover. For most patients, any discomfort associated with smile makeovers can be eased with over the counter medications and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. If discomfort continues beyond the first two weeks, it can be a sign that one of the veneers or other parts of the smile makeover is out of alignment and needs to be adjusted.

The smile makeover cost

Deciding on smile makeovers is a personal decision between patients and dentists. However, patients should keep in mind that smile makeovers can be a costly undertaking. For veneers, the average cost is $800 to $1500 per tooth, and the most extensive smile makeovers may involve as many as 10 teeth. Smile makeovers may or may not be covered by your dental insurance plan, depending on the needs of the patient and the reasons behind receiving a smile makeover, but many dental offices will offer some type of payment arrangements to help defray the costs.
Smile makeovers can help improve the look of your smile to give you more self confidence and a healthier mouth through simple dental procedures.