Smile makeover process | Getting pretty dentistry

Smile Makeover process

Smile improvement is an important part of cosmetic dentistry. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a significant motivating factor for visiting your dentist. For many patients, so is being proud of their smile’s appearance. Depending on the nature of your cosmetic concerns, upgrading how you look with the smile makeover process may seem complicated. Fortunately, there are a variety of customized treatments that can help simplify a seemingly complex smile makeover process. These cosmetic treatments can help you enjoy the brighter, fuller, and more attractive smile that you deserve.

In many ways, making over your smile is sometimes a numbers game. On average, you have 28 individual teeth (minus the four wisdom teeth, if you’ve had them extracted). That means you have very limited space to fix your smile if one or more of these teeth become visibly blemished. The point of a makeover is to make the most of this limited space. The goal of the smile makeover process is to create a beautiful, blemish free, healthy, and vibrant smile. The goal is to do it while limiting the drilling. It is better to retain as much of your tooth structure as possible. To do that, we can design your complete dental makeover with as few steps as possible using one or more custom crafted cosmetic enhancements.

Transform your smile

Receiving pretty dentistry can make a big difference in how you feel.

Upgrading your smile with cosmetic dental procedures

As part of the artistic design of your dental makeover, the dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and everything else that can affect your smile. The goal is maximum results with minimal changes, and that requires taking all of your smile’s issues into consideration. For instance, some of the most common concerns that the smile makeover process can address include:

  • Minor to severe teeth stains that don’t bleach
  • Chips or cracks in tooth surfaces
  • Slightly misaligned teeth – slightly crooked teeth can be straightened without braces
  • Noticeable spaces between teeth
  • Worn down teeth
  • Too much gum shows above the upper teeth
  • Teeth that seem too small
  • Discolored teeth

The Smile Makeover Process

Once your dentist determines exactly what your smile needs, he can design your smile makeover treatment plan to include only the procedures necessary to address your concerns. For instance, if your only issue is teeth stains, then your only treatment may be teeth whitening or dental bonding. However, smile makeovers also typically contain other cosmetic dentistry procedures such as cosmetic tooth bonding with composite resin, porcelain veneers, and porcelain or POM dental crowns. Occasionally, tooth decay or gum problems need to dealt with prior to cosmetic treatments.

Dental Veneers will upgrade your smile

Dental veneers are a popular addition to many smile makeover plans because they’re often the best option for addressing multiple issues at once. Veneers are thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. Each veneer closely mimics the size, shape, tooth color, and appearance of the natural teeth. Unlike composite bonding, the porcelain should last for decades. As part of a complete makeover, veneers can help you improve most or all of your concerns with minimal changes to your tooth structure. When more than half of a tooth is missing from decay, damage, or previous dentistry, a dental crown is the best option.

It is in the patient’s best interest for the dentist to do the least amount of drilling. Crowns and veneers are the two main cosmetic dental options for transforming your smile.

Gum reshaping or lifting is commonly done during the smile makeover process

While most cosmetic smile concerns involve the appearance of your teeth, many patients experience an uneven gum line that affects their smile’s overall appearance. Uneven gums can be the result of existing or previous gum disease. A cosmetic gum lift involves carefully sculpting your gum line to more symmetrically frame your teeth. If a gummy smile or uneven gum scallops are of concern, then treating them will be part of the process. Smile symmetry is a very commonly included as part of a smile upgrade process.

Dental Implants

Tooth loss from cracked teeth or failed root canals can have many consequences for your oral health. Tooth loss can also dramatically affect your smile’s appearance, making it a common concern for patients who need a dental makeover. With dental implants, your dentist can rebuild and upgrade your smile while improving your long term oral health. A dental implant-supported restoration can offer the lifelike results. This is thanks to their ability to mimic the support of your healthy, natural teeth roots.

Learn more about the smile makeover process

Are you interested in learning more about the process of upgrading your smile? Do you have old stained composite fillings or amalgam fillings? When you need a smile improvement, we can offer cosmetic and restorative dentistry designed to simplify your treatment while optimizing your results. Schedule a time to ask questions about your smile by calling us at 847-234-0517. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities in the Chicago Metro area.

Dr. Fondriest is a Nationally recognized and highly sought after and experienced cosmetic dentist. He serves clients from throughout the United States