Smile Makeovers

A dentist today cannot practice without being a cosmetic dentist. Society has demanded more naturally looking dental restorations and whiter/brighter beautiful smiles. Technological advancements in dentistry have made cosmetic dentistry an ever growing and exciting area for dentists. Traditional dentistry focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, whereas cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person's smile. It is becoming more popular for patients to replace metal or dark fillings with esthetic restorations. The majority of materials used in cosmetic dentistry are composites, porcelains and ceramics. The procedures can involve a combination of fillings, bonding, teeth whitening, veneers, implants, crowns, bridges and possibly full or partial dentures. Cosmetic dentistry can be as simple as matching a small tooth colored filling with the affected tooth, or as complex as full mouth reconstruction, which may involve several dentists who focus on their specific areas of expertise to obtain a superior outcome.

A smile makeover improves the appearance of the patient’s smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures. The expectations of the patient must first be addressed, followed by a customized comprehensive treatment plan to accomplish these goals. Oral health issues will take precedence, such as gum disease, oral cancer, active decay, infections or abscesses. After the patient has a healthy oral environment, the plan will include some of the cosmetic dental procedures described earlier, as well as considering orthodontics and oral surgery (implants). The evenness and height of the gum line must also be taken into consideration, which may involve the use of a laser to achieve better contours. Gingival re-contouring alone can make a short and stubby toothed smile appear full and natural. A patient who decides to have cosmetic dentistry or full reconstruction can positively turn their personality around and boost their self confidence. An extreme makeover starts with a beautiful smile.

Preview a New Smile and Test Drive

There are a few things a patient will be offered prior to a smile makeover as a preview. They include:

• Before and after photos of a previous case.
• Diagnostic wax-up of the proposed final result using the patient’s actual pre-op molds.
• Composite bonding mockup or test drive, which is done by temporarily bonding tooth colored resin material to the patient’s teeth using templates from the diagnostic wax-up models. This allows for any adjustments of contours and lengths for patient expectations/satisfaction of appearance and feel, and to assure proper function of the final outcome. Once the patient is satisfied with the temporary results, the composite is removed with no lasting harm to the teeth.

Maintenance of a New Smile

There are not many things that last forever, including dental restorations. Regular visits to the dentist and hygienist for maintenance are mandatory to achieve a long lasting healthy smile, whether or not a makeover has been done. Periodontal (gum) health can be maintained by regular exams, cleanings and proper home care. Teeth whitening can be repeated occasionally to keep natural teeth light and bright. Composite bonding will need to be replaced or touched-up due to staining and possible wear around five to seven years after placement. Ceramic/porcelain veneers can chip, break or pop off with excessive biting or grinding habits. A night guard can reduce this risk. Crowns usually need to be replaced every ten to fifteen years. Gingival re-contouring can relapse some and require a touch-up.