Smile Makeover Procedure
A smile makeover is a combination of cosmetic and restorative dental procedures to correct an imperfect smile and dental disorders. Standard procedures included in a smile makeover are dental veneers (porcelain veneers and ceramic veneers), dental implants, dental bridges, dental bonding, dental crowns, teeth whitening, and Invisalign®.
Each procedure serves a slightly different purpose; therefore, they are non-interchangeable.
What is The Smile Makeover Procedure
A smile is worth a thousand words. It is an undeniable fact that a beautiful smile can improve your self-esteem and open a doorway of opportunities for you that you would not have had otherwise. If you do not have a beautiful smile or your otherwise beautiful smile is ruined due to stained, crooked, or missing teeth, not to worry — a smile makeover is a perfect solution to your aesthetic concerns. A smile makeover follows a step-by-step approach to reaching your goals. Renowned for its longevity and non-invasiveness, a smile makeover is the most trusted and aesthetically pleasing cosmetic dental treatment for achieving a flawless smile.
A smile makeover encompasses a range of procedures that follow a hierarchical approach to address your goals. Few procedures are non-invasive, whereas a few are minimally invasive. procedures included in a smile makeover are:
- Dental crowns
- Dental implants
- Dental bonding
- Dental bridges
- Porcelain or ceramic veneers
- Tooth alignment
- Tooth whitening
- Gum sculpting
Each procedure has a slightly different approach and follows a hierarchical pattern. Choosing an experienced dentist and meticulous execution of clinical steps based on an accurate and individualized plan lead to a controllable workflow and an aesthetically appealing and long-lasting smile.
Why Choose Smile Makeover
You may already know what works for oral care. Still, your smile makes you think low about your self-image, you feel embarrassed to show off your crooked, missing, or intrinsically yellow teeth, or you have an underlying functional problem you don't know — it is like an out-of-the-door hinge that's making an uneven working of the door or a leaky pipe that is making your plumbing fail. So, what now? You should be aware of it before you plan a treatment. Knowing your aesthetic goals before voicing them in front of your dentist is the first step to getting an oral dental treatment.
Based on trusted statistics, nearly half of people in the United States suffer from dental issues. Therefore, more people are going for smile makeovers to restore their smiles. Several issues can motivate you to go for a smile makeover. Tooth decay can cause you to lose teeth. An accident may have chipped or damaged your teeth, or you may have functional issues like difficulty chewing, eating, or articulation due to uneven or missing teeth. Whatever the reason, a smile makeover can improve your dental health.
Not all patients need a complete smile makeover. For example, the entire smile makeover is clearly unnecessary if a person wants tooth whitening only. It makes smile makeover a highly individualized process tailored to your specific needs. Before going for a smile makeover, it's essential to consult your dentist first. An expert cosmetic dentist will guide you through the procedure. The finished results of a smile makeover are outstanding. You won't recognize the person smiling back at you in the mirror. It doesn't only give you a beautiful smile; it improves your overall quality of life.
The Smile Makeover Solution
Generally, several procedures fall under the smile makeover umbrella. Some of the procedures include:
- Dental implants
- Dental crowns
- Dental bridges
- Tooth whitening
- Dental veneers
- Tooth aligners or braces
- Gum sculpting
Above mentioned procedures are a combination of cosmetic and restorative cosmetic dentistry. The one prescribed by your dentist depends on your dental issue.
Aligners
Aligners are used to correct teeth crowding or eating or biting problems due to uneven spacing.
Tooth aligners work on the same principle as traditional metallic braces but don't involve placing wires inside the mouth. Aligners are designed from molds or digital scans of your mouth. These molds are used to create invisible, tight-fitting, and transparent mouthpieces that exert consistent pressure on teeth and gradually move them into an aligned position. Invisible aligners straighten your teeth and lead to a healthy smile.
Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening is the most common cosmetic dental procedure giving dramatic results to many patients. Consumption of coffee, tobacco, gooey or sugary food, sodas, old age, and irregular or improper brushing leads to the yellowing of teeth. Changing daily habits is the easiest and the most sensible way of teeth whitening. However, sometimes it's not easy to reverse the stains. In that case, seeking professional services for tooth whitening is necessary.
It's important to know that tooth whitening only fades the shade of your teeth lighter. If your teeth are damaged, crowded, fractured, or discolored, they'll still be the same after tooth whitening, albeit a few shades lighter.
Dental veneers
Dental veneers are custom-made, tooth-colored shells of porcelain or ceramic that fit over the tooth surface. Dental veneers offer a quick fix to:
- Chipping or cracking
- Uneven spacing, teeth crowding, or rotation
- Wear and tear
- Size issues
Dental veneers must not be confused with dental bonding.
Dental bonding
Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin or glue-like substances to fix cracks and chips. It is an inexpensive, simple, non-invasive, and single-visit procedure. The downside of tooth bonding is that teeth bonded with resins are more prone to staining.
Dental implants
A dental implant is a specific treatment for people with periodontal disease or a tooth injury. The most common type of implant is the in-bone implant, which places screws into the jawbone through a surgical procedure. These implants then will get a custom-crafted crown to match the patient's natural tooth color and size. Patient satisfaction is the most critical factor governing the procedure's success.
Dental crowns
Dental crowns are a renowned way to cover teeth that are discolored or misshapen. Dental crowns support teeth that need a large filling or don't have enough room to keep their hold.
Dental crowns can restore your smile and give you long-lasting brand new teeth if you have visible cavities or cracks.
Gum sculpting
Gingival or gum sculpting is a dental procedure to treat awkwardly visible teeth. It reshapes your gums and removes extra mass if necessary. It uses laser treatment and surgical methods depending on the extent of mass removal.
Is Smile Makeover Procedure Right for You?
The smile we wear should be aesthetically appealing and functionally sound. A smile makeover is much more than giving you only straight teeth. Before going for a smile makeover, you must decide whether you need it or want it. It will help you voice your concerns more accurately to your dentist. Considering the following things before choosing a smile makeover helps you decide whether or not a smile makeover is right for you:
Are your teeth worn out?
If your teeth are broken or worn due to an injury or bruxism (teeth grinding, especially while asleep), dental bonding or porcelain veneers can rebuild broken or worn teeth. Veneers are more long-lasting and stain-resistant. It usually takes two office visits.
Do you have enough bone?
Dental implants need enough bone volume to anchor the new implant and lock them in place. If you have had missing teeth for a long time or have periodontal disease, you might not be the right candidate for dental implants right away and might need some bone augmentation surgery to build up the bone before getting the implant.
Are your teeth in good health?
If your teeth are in good health, filling, veneers, crowns, or teeth whitening are the most you want for a brilliant Hollywood smile.
Do you have functional or health goals?
If your irregular, unevenly spaced, or missing teeth are causing trouble eating or chewing or sensitivity issues, tooth aligners, bridges, or dentures can help address the issue. Even spacing between teeth and proper alignment means lesser trapping of food particles, lesser sensitivity and more intake of a balanced diet, easier eating, and improved overall health.
Do you have trouble speaking?
Many people have articulation issues due to overbite, underbite, gaps between teeth, or missing teeth. Unintended whistling and improper enunciation are the most common outcomes of such problems. Dental implants, bridges, or aligners can counteract the problem.
Does your smile cause professional impediments?
Besides physical problems like plaque build-up, chewing, articulation issues, and overall poor health, if your smile has a social impact that affects your professional growth or mental health negatively, it's the right time for you to get a smile makeover to thrive socially and professionally.
Do you need it, or do you want it?
Do your comprehensive research to know if you are doing the right thing for yourself. Maybe you don't need an entire smile makeover and want something smaller. Know your goals to make a proper decision.
Are you a heavy smoker?
Heavy smoking or tobacco consumption is a contra-indicator for any oral treatment. Smoking increases the risk of post-procedural infections.
Do you have enough money?
Before embarking on your smile makeover journey, do enough work on how much you are willing to pay or how big a loan you can pay back. If you are ready to pay anywhere between $3k-50k, you are an easy candidate for a smile makeover. Dental financing can split your payments in easy installments, and you can boost your confidence and wear a dazzling smile without having to worry about the expense, but it may incur interest.
Always express your genuine concerns to an expert cosmetic dentist and get their opinion before choosing a smile makeover.
Conclusion
Before proceeding with a smile makeover procedure, understanding your goals and available options is imperative. A variety of smile makeover options are available commercially. Each option has its own pros and cons. Don't go bargain shopping for the cheapest cosmetic dentistry. However, consider a specific treatment procedure's cost, length, and results. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your dentist to make an informed decision.
As with any other treatment, a smile makeover is not free of risks. Even though a smile makeover carries minimal risks, it still has a few associated risks. Always keep an eye on your medical history before proceeding with oral treatments to avoid risks as much as possible.
Second conclusion paragraph about the procedure (100 words) Before starting your treatment, classify your concerns as your needs or wants. It will help you express your goals to your dentist more confidently and appropriately and will also help create a controlled, budget-friendly, and personalized procedure roadmap.
If you are interested in a smile makeover, Doctor Leyli Shirvani at My Dentist San Francisco can assist you in deciding whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure. We can assess your smile and recommend the most appropriate and promising method for your desired outcomes.
About My Dentist San Francisco
My Dentist San Francisco is a premier dental clinic in San Francisco, CA, United States. We offer a wide range of dentistry services at the highest standard. We provide you with the highest quality dental care, from preventive care to advanced restorative treatment and cosmetic smile makeover. We at My Dentist San Francisco are passionate about our patients' premium care and are committed to providing them with the state-of-the-art treatment, offering the best results, meticulous attention, and gentle care.
We consider the well-being of the entire body while treating patients. Our team of dentists and hygienist provides exceptional care, focusing on delivering the best results by using the latest cutting-edge technology to align oral health with the rest of the body.
