A smile makeover is a term that describes an entire suite of dental procedures that can be employed in order to change the appearance of a smile and, in some cases, parts of the face as well. A smile makeover is not the same as a dental reconstruction because a makeover is purely voluntary and done for mainly aesthetic reasons.
The first step to receiving a smile makeover is a consultation with a cosmetic dentist. This is the stage where the patient will decide exactly what they want changed about their smile. Nearly any part of the mouth can be modified. Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants while discolored teeth can be covered in veneers or whitened with laser treatments.
More extreme changes can also be made. Through maxillofacial surgery, the shape of the creeks or jaw line can be changed. With the use of bridges, crowns or veneers, the length, shape and spacing of teeth can be modified. Even the gum line can be sculpted to change the amount that is visible.
It is important that the dentist give the patient a full examination before starting work. Since a smile makeover can involve many procedures over a short period of time, it is necessary that the patient have a relatively healthy mouth.
Because a smile makeover will most likely require several stages to complete, it is not uncommon for the patient to heal completely between the different procedures. This means that once the entire makeover has been finished, there may be no need for any extended recovery.