What is included in a smile makeover?
A complete makeover for your smile provides a variety of treatment options bundled into a single comprehensive plan, saving time and money. If you have multiple dental concerns that include cosmetic and restorative procedures, those can all be addressed in a smile makeover treatment plan.
Alignment
If crooked or misaligned teeth are contributing to your unhappiness with your smile but you do not want metal braces to disrupt your life, clear aligners can be part of your smile makeover. These invisible braces work like traditional metal braces and shift your teeth over time. The clear plastic material is barely noticeable as it fits around your teeth. The aligners are also removable, enabling you to eat whatever you want and then replace them when you are finished.
Bonding
Bonding procedures are beneficial for correcting teeth that are broken, chipped, cracked, or stained. This non-invasive, cost-effective procedure applies a tooth-colored composite resin to the tooth. The resin is sculpted to fit, hardened, and polished to present a natural appearance that blends with surrounding teeth. The procedure is painless and can be completed quickly in a single office visit.
Dental veneers
Dental veneers are a popular choice for smile makeovers, as they can address a variety of aesthetic concerns affecting one or multiple teeth. If your smile is diminished by cracks, chips, gaps, misalignment, discoloration, or inconsistent tooth size, porcelain veneers can provide an immediate solution. For traditional veneers, you must have a sufficient layer of healthy enamel to support the porcelain. Minimal prep options are often available if your enamel is insufficient.
Gum contouring
You may not consider the gums when you think about a beautiful smile, but the ratio between tooth and gum can create or detract from an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Gum contouring utilizes a laser for reshaping the soft gum tissue. This is especially useful for improving the appearance of small teeth. The use of lasers allows for a quick procedure that is precise and results in minimal bleeding or inflammation.
Tooth whitening
Everyone experiences some degree of discoloration of the teeth over time. This can occur due to age, lifestyle, insufficient oral hygiene, or dietary habits. Drinks such as juice, tea, wine, coffee, cola, and carbonated beverages can stain your teeth. Foods including berries and other fruits, sauces, candy, and other sweets can also contribute to discoloration. If the color of your teeth is robbing you of your "pearly whites," a tooth whitening procedure can be included as part of your smile makeover. Professional tooth whitening is safe and incredibly effective, requiring just a few weeks to achieve a noticeably whiter smile. In addition, many of the whitening products contain ingredients that kill bacteria, a leading cause of gum disease and tooth decay, so your teeth will be healthier as well as whiter.
Other restorative procedures
Correcting imperfections that detract from the appearance of your smile can involve some procedures that also work to restore the functionality of your teeth. Some multipurpose treatment options that may be a part of a smile makeover include:
- Dental crowns: Usually crafted of porcelain, ceramic, or metal, dental crowns restore functionality to damaged or decayed teeth by capping the entire tooth.
- Dental bridges: Bridges use crowns to support a bridge of artificial teeth to replace missing teeth.
- Dental fillings: Tooth-colored fillings are used to repair decay and restore the appearance and functionality of damaged teeth.
- Dental implants: Implants are a popular option for restoring the aesthetics and function of missing teeth.