What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a process of designing and creating an ideal smile through a series of cosmetic dental procedures. We specialize in smile makeovers here at Taylor Cosmetic Dental and we absolutely love the way they change lives.
Smile makeovers are generally cosmetic in nature, meaning that they are primarily concerned with the appearance of your teeth. This means that they are elective in nature and it is highly unlikely that your insurance company will cover the cost. However, for many people, the benefits of a smile makeover are worth the investment and we have various financing options available.
We understand that a quality smile makeover is led by the patient’s goals and directed by the clinical knowledge and eye for aesthetics that Dr. Rath and her team is known for. We believe that the process is just as important as the final results are.
What does the smile makeover process entail?
The first part of a smile makeover is an initial consultation with a member of our expert dental team. We assess the current health and condition of your teeth, gums, and bite. This is crucial because before we can address the aesthetic aspects of a great smile, we want to make sure to take care of the functional aspects of your smile.
We will also take x-rays at this consultation to get an in-depth, comprehensive look at your smile.
The next step is discussing what your personal smile goals are. For most people, getting straight, white teeth that are beautifully shaped and sized is the ultimate goal — but every patient has their own specific needs. Smile makeovers can also vary greatly in terms of how much work is done. For example, some of our patients have smile makeovers that are limited to fixing chipped teeth with bonding and a little whitening. Others need a complete overhaul and receive implants, crowns, and veneers. Every smile story is unique.
The most common issues we address in a smile makeover include:
- Missing teeth
- Gaps in teeth
- Discolored or stained teeth
- Bite issues
- Misaligned or crooked teeth
- Adjusting the size and shape of teeth that are too small or too large
- Replacing metal fillings with less noticeable white fillings
Once we have clearly established what we are working towards as the end result, we will show you a computer-generated image of your future smile which we can tweak as necessary.
After that, we will put together a treatment plan. In this plan, we will outline the procedures we will be performing and layout the timeline for when they will be completed.
Some of the most common smile makeover procedures include:
- Whitening
- Veneers
- Crowns
- Dental Implants
- Bridges
- Bonding
- Fillings
- Traditional braces
- Invisalign
- Laser gum contouring
Usually, it is a combination of several of these procedures that produces the best results.
What are the benefits of a smile makeover?
The results of a smile makeover go far beyond just having a “nice smile.” We have found that many of our patients come to us with poor self-esteem, partially due to a less-than-perfect smile that inhibits their confidence in social and career circles.
A recent survey discovered that 92 percent of those surveyed who had straightened their teeth said the procedure was important to their confidence. What’s even more telling is that 29 percent of survey respondents claimed that having straight teeth helped them conquer a personal goal. The survey also reported that of all the physical characteristics that participants felt insecure about, their smile was second only to their weight.
Another benefit of smile makeovers is that even though they are primarily done for aesthetics, they can also fix other crucial dental issues at the same time. For instance, a small chip on one of your teeth might only be a cosmetic issue now, but it could be more susceptible to cracking later on. If we fix it with bonding as part of a smile makeover, it can prevent future issues down the road.
Smile makeovers can also help you take better care of your teeth. If you have a smile you love and are proud of, you are more likely to want to keep it that way with daily brushing and flossing.
There is also the practical advantage that cleaning food and debris out of straight teeth is much easier than trying to clean crooked teeth. This results in a decrease in your risk of cavities and decay.
Is a smile makeover right for me?
If you are interested in a smile makeover and would like to learn more about what it would involve for you personally, schedule a consultation with our office today!