Smile Makeover
Smile makeovers are custom-designed cosmetic dentistry treatment plans that aim to improve the appearance of the smile with procedures like teeth whitening, composite bonding, porcelain or composite dental veneers, or dental implants, to name a few. When designing your smile makeover, your cosmetic dentist will factor in the appearance of your face, including your skin tone and face shape; your hair color; and the appearance of your gums and lips. They’ll pay special attention to the teeth, customizing your makeover to result in teeth that are the ideal color, length, shape, and width, and that are in perfect proportion with each other. Your cosmetic dentist will address any concerns you might have, specifically, reviewing your options as your treatment plan is drafted and explaining each procedure you’ll have.
Different people have different goals with their smile makeover, depending on what they’re self-conscious about and their reasons for getting the makeover in the first place. Some common targets of a smile makeover include the color of the teeth, their alignment or spacing, damaged teeth, gummy smiles, missing teeth, and even the shape of lips and face. Tooth color can be restored by replacing metal fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings and by whitening dull or stained teeth with clinical or at home-bleaching treatments. Tooth color is also an important consideration in planning for porcelain veneers, dental crowns, bonding, and any other restoration that is intended to look like natural, healthy teeth. While you might think the ideal teeth are blindingly white, the shade your cosmetic dentist will choose for you will be specifically chosen to look natural and balanced with your skin color and hair: the naturally perfect white for you.
An experienced cosmetic dentist can also perform treatments that affect the overall appearance of the face; for example, when the patient desires a slimmer appearance in the face, slightly longer teeth can create this effect. Cosmetic dentists can also sculpt the teeth to create softer or harder edges, depending on the aesthetic desired by the patient, and execute all sorts of other design techniques that redesign the entire smile.
Teeth that overlap, have gaps, or are crooked can be straightened with orthodontic treatments or Invisalign, depending on the specific clinical needs of the patient, and can also be enhanced with veneers. In many cases, veneers can mask damaged teeth, or teeth that are too narrow or too short, and composite bonding and sculpting are also used to restore the appearance and integrity of damaged teeth when damage is mild. When teeth are missing, the best replacement option will depend on the number of teeth missing, where the teeth are located, the needs of the patient, and several other factors; for many patients who are missing teeth, dental implants are the ideal dental restoration, though crowns, bridges, and partial dentures can also be used to replace missing teeth. Certain orthodontic treatments and some oral surgeries can rejuvenate the appearance of the lips and cheeks and should be discussed with your cosmetic dentist if you’re planning a smile makeover; after all, your lips and cheeks are an important part of your smile, too.
