When Is a Smile Makeover Worth It?

Sometimes, it takes more than one procedure to get the smile of your dreams. A dental provider can create a custom plan called a smile makeover to enhance different aspects of your smile. It is best to ask a provider if a smile makeover is right for you, as they can give personalized professional advice. However, there are some signs that it may be worth asking sooner rather than later.

What is a smile makeover?

A smile makeover comprises a combination of cosmetic dental treatments. Which ones we will include in each patient's plan will depend on their unique pain points. Here are some of the most common treatments recommended as part of a smile makeover:

• Dental bonding: Composite resin material that improves the natural appearance of the teeth, such as by sealing cracks and restoring chips
• Dental veneers: Thin shells that cover the fronts of the teeth, creating a more picture-perfect smile
• Tooth and gum contouring: Procedures that change the shape of the teeth or gums and how they appear in contrast with one another
• Professional teeth whitening kits: Take-home kits that include professional-grade whitening agents to brighten smiles safely
• Orthodontic treatments: Teeth straightening procedures and devices, like clear aligners

Not all these procedures will be included in a patient's smile makeover. Rather, the dental provider may recommend a couple or several of these treatments together. That way, the cosmetic imperfections that bother the patient can be addressed, and the natural beauty of their smile can be enhanced.

When a smile makeover is worth it

Generally, patients consider a smile makeover when they are unhappy with more than one aspect of their smile. Here are the most common cosmetic imperfections altered through smile makeovers:

Discoloration or stained teeth

The dental provider can fix stained teeth with a smile makeover, which may involve bonding, veneers, and teeth whitening. Bonding and veneers conceal staining, while teeth whitening uses bleaching agents to brighten the teeth. Many dental providers offer take-home kits so patients can achieve a whiter smile with professional-grade whitening solutions in the comfort of their own homes.

Crooked teeth and other misalignments

Patients can straighten their teeth as part of a smile makeover. This may involve fixing an overbite or underbite or shifting crooked and crowded teeth into proper alignment. It is also possible to close gaps in the smile. While clear aligners and braces may be the first treatments that come to mind, a dental provider may use dental bonding or tooth contouring to make certain teeth appear straighter.

Misshapen or uneven teeth

Teeth that are too big, tall, short, or otherwise uneven can be altered in a smile makeover. Veneers are the most intensive option for making a smile more uniform, as the dental provider shaves down the teeth and then applies these shells on top.

However, dental bonding and tooth contouring are also options. Bonding can be applied to bulk up or lengthen teeth, while tooth contouring involves shaving away enamel to reduce a tooth's size. Similarly, the dental provider can reduce the gum line with gum contouring, a popular treatment for gummy smiles.