A smile makeover is the process of improving the appearance of the smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as:
- Dental veneers.
- Composite bonding.
- Tooth implants.
- Teeth whitening.
Smile makeovers are performed for many reasons and customized according to your unique considerations. Some aspects of your smile that your cosmetic dentist will review with you and that could be improved include the following:
Tooth Color
Silver or amalgam dental fillings can be replaced with natural, tooth-colored fillings, while teeth whitening can improve the color of stained or dulled teeth. Tooth color and shading are important factors to be considered during the smile makeover procedure. Cosmetic dentists are skilled at providing you with a brighter, whiter smile and maintaining a natural tooth color.
Alignment and Spacing
Teeth that are crooked, overlapping or have gaps between them can be straightened and aligned when necessary through orthodontics or Invisalign and improved with veneers.
Missing Teeth
One or more missing teeth can negatively affect the appearance of your smile - as well as affect your bite and increase your risk for tooth decay making replacement an integral part of oral health and facial esthetics. Missing teeth can be replaced by dental implants, bridges or partial dentures.
Harmony and Balance
Uneven, chipped and cracked teeth can be cosmetically bonded for an improved appearance. Fuller Lips, Smile and Cheeks: An unshapely or aging face can be improved or rejuvenated with certain procedures in the smile makeover category, including orthodontics and/or oral maxillofacial surgery. A cosmetic dentist will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan designed to achieve exactly what you want from your makeover. This treatment plan may consist of many cosmetic and functionally restorative procedures, potentially including teeth whitening, composite bonding, veneers, dental crowns, orthodontics (braces), oral maxillofacial surgery and gummy smile reduction.
Tooth Length
Long teeth lend a youthful appearance. Aging produces wear and tear that often results in shorter teeth, and a gummy smile also can make teeth appear shorter. A treatment for shorter teeth may include reshaping and lengthening the two front central teeth with composite bonding or porcelain veneers. If you have a gummy smile, your cosmetic dentist may provide treatment to modify the gum line and lengthen the appearance of the teeth using laser dentistry procedures.
Smile Line
The smile line is an imaginary line that follows the edges of your upper teeth from side to side, which ideally should be the same as the curve of your lower lip when you smile. This standard point of reference may be used to help determine how long your new teeth should be.
Tooth Proportions
Your cosmetic dentist will examine your teeth to determine if they are in correct proportion with each other.This proportion guides the length and width of other teeth so that the smile line appears balanced.
Tooth Texture and Characterization
An artistic dentist can characterize your crowns or veneers to create a more feminine or a more masculine appearance, in addition to matching the look and feel of natural teeth or those you've seen in photographs.