A smile makeover is the process of improving the appearance of your smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, including:
- Dental veneers
- Composite bonding
- Tooth implants
- Teeth whitening
Some of the aspects that need to be considered before getting a smile makeover include your facial appearance, hair color, skin tone, teeth appearance, gum tissue, and lips. So, while smile makeovers are done for many reasons, it is essential to make sure your customized procedure has your unique considerations in mind.
Some characteristics of your smile that the cosmetic dentist can improve upon include the following:
Tooth Color
Rather than having silver or amalgam dental fillings, your cosmetic dentist might want to replace them with natural, tooth-colored composite restorations to help your smile look more natural. You may also want to consider teeth whitening to improve any stained teeth. An experienced cosmetic dentist will also consider various procedures that might include crowns, porcelain veneers, composite bonding, dental implants, and bridges when evaluating your smile.
It is also essential to you remember that the whitest, brightest smile isn’t always the best-looking smile. Instead, your cosmetic dentist will need to find the right balance between a whiter smile and a natural-looking one. So, they will need to ensure that they take your skin tone and hair color into consideration when finding the shades to correct your smile.
Alignment and Spacing
Through orthodontics and Invisalign, any crooked, overlapping, or gapped teeth can be straightened and aligned over time.
Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can not only negatively affect the appearance of your smile, they can impact your bite and increase your risk for tooth decay. Therefore, your cosmetic dentist will want to replace any missing teeth as part of any oral health and facial aesthetic procedures. Missing teeth can be replaced by partial dentures, dental implants, or bridges.
Balance
Chipped, uneven, and cracked teeth can easily be improved through cosmetic bonding. In addition, a disproportionately gummy smile can also be reconstructed to help improve the overall aesthetics of the patient’s smile.
An Overall Improved Face
An uneven or aging face can be aesthetically improved with specific procedures, including orthodontics and oral maxillofacial surgery.
Tooth Length
Most of the time, longer teeth make a person look more youthful. When a person ages, the wear and tear of life will often result in shorter teeth, and a person who has a gummy smile may also seem as though their teeth are shorter. A cosmetic dentist may treat your teeth by reshaping and lengthening the two central teeth in the front with porcelain veneers or composite bonding. Your cosmetic dentist may also want to treat or modify your gum line to lengthen the appearance of your teeth by using laser procedures.
Smile Line
A person’s smile line is the imaginary line that runs along the edges of your upper teeth from one side to the next. Ideally, this imaginary line should have the same curve as your lower lip when you smile, and is considered the standard point of reference to help the cosmetic dentist determine how long your new teeth should be re-proportioned.
Tooth Proportions
People often want their two central front teeth to be dominant and have a width to length ratio of about 4 to 5. This ratio typically makes the smile line appear more balanced and has a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Maintaining Your Results
It is important to note that any dental procedures will require regular oral hygiene care and maintenance over time. For example, a person who has their teeth whitened may need to go in routinely to maintain the brightness they are seeking. Dental procedures like porcelain veneers may need repairs and replacements over time, and permanent composite bonding may stain and require enhancements as well. Overall, it is crucial to speak with your dental professional to understand the post-procedure care necessary in maintaining your best smile.
Some foods and drinks to limit or avoid might include coffee, soda, and tea, as well as any excessive alcoholic beverages. Any food high in sugar increases your chances of obtaining cavities, so it is important to take the necessary precautions to limit these outcomes.
You should also be aware of your tendencies of biting or chewing hard objects, such as pens, bottle caps, etc. If you are someone who grinds their teeth, you may also need to be fitted with a nightguard to prevent any damage to your restorations in general.
The Costs of a Smile Makeover
Various components can affect the price of your smile makeover. For example, the duration of your dental procedure, your dentist’s list of costs, your location, your dental insurance, the current state of your oral health, and the procedures you want to obtain will all affect the overall cost of your smile makeover.
If your dentist finds that you have any underlying oral health issues before beginning your dental procedure and treatment, the treatment will more than likely become more expensive. Even if your dental insurance covers some of the restorative procedures, the price may go up compared to someone who has perfect oral health.
If you would like to learn more about smile makeovers, give Carlsbad Dental Associates a call today.
Located in Carlsbad, California, Dr. Edward Adourian is an experienced, renowned specialist in all things dental. From general dentistry to family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Adourian and his team can help you and your loved ones with all your dental needs. Our experienced professionals here at Carlsbad Dental Associates are more than happy to help you with Invisalign, CEREC same-day crowns, dental implants, and so much more. Give us a call today at (760)918-9000.
