If you are unhappy with the quality of your smile, or have sustained extensive damage to your teeth, a smile makeover could be the solution you need. This involves employing a number of cosmetic procedures to your teeth to reach an overall, defined goal.
The first step is an oral health evaluation. In order to cosmetically alter your teeth, your overall oral health must be fairly good. If you have gum disease or a misaligned bite (commonly referred to as malocclusion), then you may need even more extensive restorative treatment – this is known as a full mouth reconstruction. This is a procedure that is more elaborate, but also provides positive results.
If you pass your oral health evaluation, then you must decide on your aesthetic goals with the help of a cosmetic dentist. A proper smile makeover considers your full facial appearance, including skin tone, hair color, and lips. Taking these factors into consideration, it is then possible for you and the dentist to establish a customized smile for yourself. The dentist may use characterization techniques to categorize your teeth and the smile you are looking for. Finding the appropriate masculine or feminine “look” for your smile is a crucial step in deciding how to proceed. Achieving the proper look can include:
1. Tooth alignment, which can fix gaps in your teeth, crooked teeth, or overlapping teeth. This can be combined with veneers for an optimal look.
2. Tooth coloring that can be customized to match the rest of your face. This process can include replacing silver or other noticeable fillings with composite materials and whitening stained teeth.
3. Tooth replacement for missing teeth. Depending on the severity of the gaps, bridges or partial dentures can be used to complete your set.
4. Tooth contouring, which will even out the shape of uneven teeth.
5. Full facial repair that involves rejuvenating an aging or misshapen face through orthodontic work or oral maxillofacial surgery.
A good cosmetic dentist will show you before-and-after photographs of other patients who have gone through similar procedures, as well as use temporary bonding and digital imaging software to give you accurate previews of how your new smile will look on your face.
After the procedure, your dentist will want to talk about maintenance with you. As with any procedure, the life of the improvements are only as good as the care and maintenance you provide for it. Your dentist can consult with you on how long your whitening will last (typically the procedure needs to be repeated to maintain brightness), or when to decide that a veneer or bonding needs to be replaced. Just like your regular teeth, your smile makeover can be worn down over time, and it is important to follow the dentist’s instructions to maximize the potential of a long life for your new smile.