Smile Makeover: Key Things To Know

A smile makeover involves a treatment plan that improves a smile's appearance. It can involve a wide range of procedures, from dental and gum procedures to teeth straightening treatments. If you are considering this process to enhance your smile, here are some key things to know that will help you set yourself up for a successful smile makeover.

What is a smile makeover?

A smile makeover is a process that aims to improve the smile's overall appearance. The typical process involves two or more cosmetic, restorative, or orthodontic procedures as part of a smile makeover plan. Any of the following treatments could be part of someone's smile makeover plan:

• Dental bonding
• Dental veneers
• Teeth whitening
• Clear aligner treatment
• Gum contouring

Even restorative treatments can be considered part of a smile makeover, such as dental crowns or bridges, dental implants, or even replacing amalgam cavity fillings with tooth-colored composite resin.

Three important things to know about the process

Setting up for a successful smile makeover requires a commitment to oral health, an understanding of the process, and choosing the right dentist.

Good oral health is key

A successful smile makeover begins and ends with good dental hygiene. In fact, a dentist will usually have the patient take care of any dental health issues before proceeding with cosmetic improvements. In addition, once the process is complete, making the results last requires good oral health practices such as drinking water, daily brushing and flossing, avoiding hard or sticky foods, and avoiding staining beverages. With regular checkups at least twice a year, a patient can ensure they maintain their oral health.

Everyone’s smile makeover is different

When someone asks how long a smile makeover will take, it is difficult to answer without first examining the patient. The dentist will need to know how many procedures are required to produce the results the patient desires. Because each patient will have different needs, their treatment times will vary. For example, if the patient needs teeth straightening as part of their plan, their process will likely take months longer than those needing teeth whitening and dental bonding to produce their desired results.

Choose a skilled dentist

Choosing a skilled dentist to perform the smile makeover is an important step in the smile makeover process. The first place to start is to research dentists online, where patients can read about available services and reviews from actual patients. Sometimes dentists will even display before and after photos of their work. Look for a dentist with long-term experience performing smile makeovers on a variety of patients.