“smile makeover” is a catch-all term which is used to describe a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures which can be used to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your teeth. One or many different cosmetic dental treatments can be used to provide a smile makeover, with the extent of the dental work and techniques used being individual to each patient. The treatments which are available can correct a number of issues including missing, misaligned, stained, chipped, cracked or damaged teeth along with various other problems such as excess gum tissue which causes a gummy smile.

The initial step to having a smile makeover is a detailed assessment by the cosmetic dentist to find out if there are any pre-existing dental health problems. Any problems which are found will need to be resolved before the cosmetic dentistry takes place.

Following any remedial work which may be necessary, a consultation will be held where you and the cosmetic dentist will talk about the options which are available and how you would like your teeth to look. Some dentists may use a Smile Style Guide which shows the results of many different previous smile makeovers with ‘before and after’ images showing what can be achieved with the various procedures which are available.

Cosmetic Dentistry Techniques used in Smile Makeovers

There are a number of different procedures which can be carried out to provide a smile make over. As the different techniques can very in price considerably, this will be taken into account in the consultation to provide a solution which is both suitable and affordable to the patient. A smile make over can cost between a few hundred dollars and up to many thousands of dollars depending upon which treatments are decided upon.

• Teeth which have became discoloured or stained over time can be treated with a course of teeth whitening. The more advanced teeth whitening procedures will include the use of a bleaching gel which is activated with a laser to give an instant noticeable result of up to 5 shades lighter. To follow up the treatment at the dental clinic, the patient is often provided with a set of bespoke moulds and a weaker bleaching gel to use at home.
• Teeth which have became chipped or broken can often be repaired with the use of cosmetic bonding. Other options for teeth which are damaged in this way include crowns or veneers which can often be provided using an advanced dental technology called CEREC. This technique – which can also be used to close small gaps between teeth – allows for the crowns or veneers to be fully designed and manufactured in one visit to the dentist with the use of a computerised design and manufacturing process.
• Veneers can also be used to on teeth which are crooked to give the appearance that they are straight. Other treatments for crooked teeth include traditional orthodontics or more advanced ‘invisible braces’ braces which are virtually unnoticeable.
• A gummy smile caused by excess gum tissue – giving the appearance of small teeth – can be treated with a gum contouring procedure which is either carried out as a traditional surgical procedure or with the use of a specialised surgical laser.
• There are a number of options available to replace a missing tooth or number of missing teeth including a denture, bridge or dental implant surgery. The cost of these treatments differs greatly, with the denture being the least expensive and dental implant being the most costly.

The majority of treatments which are used in smile makeovers can be carried out in just one visit to the dentist, even dental implants can some times be carried out in one visit using the latest 3d implant technology. As a result of this, only 2 visits will usually be required along with the consultation visit. The outcome is almost always perfectly straight and aligned teeth which will allow you to smile with confidence.