How a Smile Makeover Can Improve Your Smile

Dentists provide smile makeovers to help people enhance the overall look of their smiles. Treatment can involve various procedures depending on the cosmetic issues that need addressing. If you are considering improving your smile, here is how a smile makeover can help.

What does it mean to have a smile makeover?

A smile makeover is a dental treatment plan typically involving two or more procedures. The goal of this treatment plan is to improve the overall look of the smile. Common smile makeover procedures include:

• Teeth whitening: Using chemicals to lighten tooth color
• Dental bonding: Tooth-colored composite resin to cover imperfections and improve tooth shape
• Enamel shaping: Removing enamel to improve tooth shape
• Dental veneers: Thin porcelain shells bonded to the front side of the teeth to make teeth look bright, uniform, and even

A smile makeover plan can also include restorative procedures such as dental implants, bridges, and crowns, as well as procedures to reshape the gums.

Ways a smile makeover can improve your smile

Consider the procedure mentioned above as a toolbox the dentist can use to improve a smile in the following ways.

Whiten teeth

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. However, this is not the only smile makeover procedure that can help produce whiter teeth. Dental veneers can also improve tooth color, and dental bonding can cover teeth stains that do not respond to teeth whitening. Sometimes, teeth whitening and dental bonding are part of the same smile makeover plan.

Restore damaged teeth

A smile makeover plan can include crowns, bridges, or veneers in addition to dental bonding. These treatments can cover imperfections and sometimes repair dental damage, minor chips, cracks, and intrinsic staining.

Replace missing teeth

Replacing missing teeth is important for aesthetics, chewing function, and dental health. A dental bridge is one way to replace teeth. Dental implants are another option that offers the added benefit of stimulating the jawbone to help keep the jawbone strong.

Improve tooth shape

Dental veneers can create a smile that is uniform in tooth color, size, and shape. A dentist may also suggest enamel shaping combined with dental bonding to improve the contours of teeth that may be jagged or uneven.

Improve tooth alignment

Dental veneers, bonding, and enamel shaping can also be part of a smile makeover plan to make teeth appear straighter. However, a dentist may also suggest that patients consider clear aligners or braces to move the teeth into better alignment.

Fix a gummy smile

A dentist may recommend gum continuing to those with excess gum tissue that covers a disproportionate part of the teeth. Excessive gingival display, also known as a gummy smile, can make teeth appear small. Gum contouring helps bring the smile back into balance.