Smile Makeover
If there’s something you don’t like about your smile, talk to your dentist. Sometimes, aesthetic issues are related to underlying clinical concerns, and it’s important to address any of these before embarking on any cosmetic restoration, so make sure to listen to your dentist’s recommendations. When cosmetic concerns aren’t causing any medical issues, however, you can choose from a variety of aesthetic options to redesign the appearance of your smile.
Some of these options include dental veneers, tooth whitening, and bonding, to name just a few. You and your cosmetic dentist will work together to make sure you’re happy with your smile, factoring in things like:
- Tooth color and texture
- Tooth alignment and spacing
- Tooth length and proportions
- Missing teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Skin tone
- Hair color
- Appearance of the gums
- Appearance of the lips
- Facial shape
If you have a concern that’s also affecting your oral health, like a missing or significantly damaged tooth, your dentist will recommend a solution that’s also functional, like root canal treatment or a bridge or denture. Likewise, if you have a significant issue with dental alignment, especially if it also affects your bite, you’ll probably need orthodontic treatment before any cosmetic procedure is recommended. It’s never a good idea to focus on the appearance of the teeth before or instead of focusing on the health of the teeth, gums, and jaw, and your dentist will make sure they’re working with a robust, healthy canvas for their dental art.
Once any clinical concerns are addressed, the goal of a smile makeover is to restore balance and vitality to the smile. There are multiple options for these restorations, and many treatments include more than one procedure. Some of these procedures involve:
- Bonding cracked or uneven teeth with composite resin or porcelain
- Placing porcelain veneers on the fronts of the teeth to make the teeth appear longer, wider, and brighter
- Contouring the gumline to repair an uneven or gummy smile
- Aligning misaligned teeth with orthodontic devices like clear dental aligners
Working closely with a cosmetic dentist, you can map out a treatment plan that looks just how you want it to look. Cosmetic dentists use all sorts of methods to show patients their potential outcomes, from photographs to wax and plaster models, to temporary prosthetics, to high-resolution dental imaging technologies. Rest assured that any reputable cosmetic dentist will make sure you’re aware of all your options as you embark on making over your smile, and you can look at your dentist’s photo gallery to get a better sense of their work.
To ensure the longevity of your smile makeover, make sure to adhere to a diligent oral hygiene routine. If you’re seeking a smile makeover because your teeth are damaged from a destructive habit, like grinding your teeth or smoking, work with your dentist or other medical provider to make sure your new smile isn’t similarly damaged, and remember to never use your teeth as tools like bottle openers or package knives. While medical procedures that support smile makeovers are often covered by dental insurance, procedures that are strictly cosmetic are rarely covered. So, if you opt for a smile makeover, think of your renovated smile as an investment that’s worth protecting, and do whatever you can to maintain its balance and its brilliance.
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