A smile makeover is a customized combination of cosmetic dental treatments designed to transform damaged, discolored, or misaligned teeth into the movie star smile you’ve always wanted.
Changing your smile from dull to delightful can take as little as one day or as much as a year to complete.
The following steps must be taken (in a specific order) before and during the process.
Am I a Candidate for a Smile Makeover?
The first preliminary step in the smile makeover process is to ensure your teeth are healthy. It’s essential to address cavities, signs of gum disease, and loose teeth before making cosmetic improvements.
However, the health and beauty of your smile do overlap when it comes to loose or missing teeth and misalignment.
What Can I Expect at My Smile Makeover Consultation?
You may have an idea about which treatments to choose. However, a consultation with a reputable cosmetic dental provider is necessary to determine which treatment(s) can best meet your needs. This is the second preliminary step.
After discussing your concerns and goals, the cosmetic dentist will examine your teeth and gums to confirm or discover any of the following issues:
- Chipped teeth
- Broken teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Discolored teeth
- Small or worn-down teeth
- Misaligned or twisted teeth
- Loose or missing teeth
They will then create a treatment plan that includes the cosmetic dental procedures that will deliver your best results.
5 Basic Steps to a Successful Smile Makeover
Your choice of cosmetic dental treatments can be performed in the following order to complete your smile makeover:
1. Invisalign® Clear Dental Aligners
If your teeth are crooked or you have a misaligned bite, Invisalign® would be the first step. In most cases, this treatment takes between six months and a year or longer in some cases.
If you plan to whiten your teeth as part of your smile makeover, you may be able to use a professional strength teeth whitener with the aligners during the last two weeks of treatment.
2. Professional Teeth Whitening
If your teeth have extrinsic (surface) stains, the next step is professional teeth whitening. ZOOM! is a quick and simple treatment that lasts about an hour and can get your teeth up to eight shades whiter.
If your treatment plan includes any kind of restoration like crowns, implants, veneers, or bonding, an experienced cosmetic dentist will strongly advise you to have your teeth whitened first. This way, you can choose a lighter shade for your dental prosthetics and have a uniformly brighter smile.
3. Dental Implants
If you have one or more missing teeth, but your jaw, gums, and remaining teeth are healthy, dental implants can be placed. Depending on the techniques used, this step can take a couple of months to complete, as the implant needs time to fuse with the jawbone.
Once securely anchored in the jaw, your dentist can place a permanent crown that matches your natural (or whitened) teeth.
4. Porcelain Veneers & Crowns
Porcelain veneers or crowns may be needed for teeth with visible structural damage. Veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells and can address several cosmetic issues, like teeth that are chipped, worn down, mildly misaligned, or have deep (intrinsic) stains that cannot be treated with professional teeth whitening. Crowns may be used if one or more teeth are broken, cracked, or too small for veneers.
5. Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is an economical alternative to veneers and can also be used to conceal teeth that are deeply discolored or chipped. Dental bonding can repair and brighten your smile, but they don’t last as long as porcelain veneers.
Smile Makeovers in Beverly Hills, CA
Dr. Kevin Sands provides the highest level of service, is committed to providing exceptional cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, California, and consistently delivers beautiful results.
Known as the premier cosmetic dentist to the stars, Dr. Sands and his team build long-lasting dental relationships one smile at a time. Call (310) 273-0111 to schedule your Beverly Hills smile makeover with Dr. Sands today!