What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is changing the appearance, health, and function of your teeth so that you can smile confidently, knowing that your smile is beautiful, healthy, and functional. There are a lot of different options in cosmetic dentistry for smile makeovers, including implants, Invisalign, veneers, crowns, and bonding. A lot of things can be used to restore the aesthetics, function, and health of your teeth so that your smile is harmonious and fits within your face.
What concerns can a full smile makeover address?
There are a lot of concerns that a full smile makeover can address. For example, we may address chipping in the teeth, discoloration, malocclusion, missing teeth, spaces that we need to keep or close, or function that we need to restore.
If there are teeth that are significantly worn down and we need to open the bite to create a more youthful smile with better function, that's also considered a smile makeover.
Who is a good candidate for a smile makeover?
Adults who want to improve the appearance or function of their smile may be candidates for a smile makeover. It could involve changing the way your teeth come together or helping move your teeth so that you can function better. If you have an imbalanced bite, for example, we may need to change it and make sure your teeth fit properly within your mouth and your smile.
If you want to change the aesthetics of your smile, such as creating a wider smile or having teeth that are better suited to your smile and overall facial features, you may also be a candidate for a smile makeover. The goal is to make sure the way you smile fits the way you want to look.
How do you determine which treatments are suitable for a smile makeover?
For us to determine what kind of treatments are suitable for someone who's coming in for a smile makeover, we have to do a comprehensive assessment. We check the patient's bite, look for any cavities, evaluate the occlusion, or how the teeth come together, and check for grinding patterns and sleep patterns. A lot of things come into play when determining what would work best for each individual patient.
We also like to hear from the patient about their goals. We want to know how you want to look, what you want to change about your smile, and how you want it to fit within your overall aesthetics. We ask patients to come in for a consultation or an assessment of their smile, situation, and function to determine what works best for them.
What happens during a smile makeover consultation?
During the smile makeover consultation, we take aesthetic photos. We scan the patient's bite and occlusion, and we also take X-rays if we don't already have them. We sit down with the patient to go through all of their goals and what their ideal smile looks like. We also determine whether that ideal smile will function well and check for cavities, decay, or gum disease.
We recommend that patients take care of gum disease, cavities, and other underlying issues before we go through an aesthetic smile makeover. We call it a holistic smile makeover for that reason because we want to make sure that we address any underlying and foundational issues before we focus on the aesthetics of the smile.
How is a smile makeover different from a single-tooth cosmetic restoration?
A smile makeover is different from a single-tooth cosmetic restoration because we have to look at the full function of the mouth, jaw, and gums instead of focusing primarily on one tooth. Although we also look at everything else when we do a single-tooth cosmetic restoration, a smile makeover is a more involved and comprehensive process. We need to make sure that all the teeth changing in shape, size, and form fit together and work in harmony.
How do veneers fit into a smile makeover plan?
Veneers fit really well within a smile makeover plan, especially for patients who only need to address a small amount of chipping, a little bit of color change, minor malocclusion or crowding, or other minor issues that can be resolved without removing too much tooth structure. Veneers are very thin shells that go over the teeth to address those issues.
For larger issues, we might have to use dental crowns. If there are missing teeth, implants may be part of the treatment plan. If there's a lot of crowding, we usually go through Invisalign treatment and straighten the teeth first before we do any veneers. Especially for our patients who have a lot of clenching and grinding, we do a thorough assessment to make sure that veneers are an appropriate option and reduce the risk of them chipping or coming off.
How many appointments does a smile makeover typically take?
A smile makeover typically takes between three and four appointments, depending on the needs of the patient and what we're trying to achieve. If we are going straight to veneers or crowns, we have a consultation first. After that, we go through an appointment where we prepare the teeth and then mock up the new smile. We let the patient live with that mockup to see how they like it and whether they want to change anything about it.
After that, we bring the patient back, finalize the mockup, and provide the final restorations at the last appointment. If the patient needs implants, then we may need additional appointments before we start placing the final restorations to make sure the implants are in place.
Is a one-day smile makeover possible?
We don't typically complete a smile makeover in one day because we want to make sure that we provide a smile makeover designed for aesthetics, function, health, and longevity. We don't want to skip the consultation or preparation appointments.
We also make sure that we have a smile makeover mockup before we start our preparations. We create a digital or wax mockup so the patient can see the planned smile before we even touch the teeth. Then we transfer the mockup into the mouth so that the patient can actually walk around with it. For our process, a smile makeover requires more than a single day so we can properly plan and evaluate the result.
How long do smile makeover results last?
Smile makeover results can last a long time. It depends on the patient's home care, how consistently they follow up with their dental care and dental visits, and how well they care for their crowns, veneers, and implants.
If we're going through Invisalign treatment, for example, it also depends on how well the patient follows through with wearing their aligners and retainers as directed. It all depends on the relationship we can build with the patient, how well the patient follows through with their care, and how we can help with the part that we play in the longevity of the smile makeover.
How should you choose a provider or compare prices for a smile makeover?
As a patient, when you're choosing a provider or comparing prices for a smile makeover, my suggestion is to look at the processes each provider uses and how much they sit down with you, talk to you, and understand your goals. What's important is the material used, the process employed, and the proficiency of the provider. My suggestion is not to choose based on price alone. Choose the option that fits your goals and what you want for your smile.
At Comfy Dental Studios, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (310) 499-2048 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.