Need a Makeover? Start With Your Smile

We have all heard how important it is to make a good first impression. Your smile is perhaps the very first thing that most people will notice about you. For this reason, it is important to have a smile that you are proud of. If you have chipped or broken teeth, gaps between your teeth, or if your teeth are showing signs of decay, a smile makeover may be just what you need to boost your self-esteem and get your confidence back.

A full smile makeover may entail a variety of cosmetic and restorative dental procedures that take place over time to give you the Hollywood smile you have always dreamed about. A highly trained cosmetic dentist will do a thorough smile evaluation and will custom-design the smile best suited for the unique features of your face and head.

Prior to a smile makeover, your oral health must be thoroughly evaluated prior to beginning any type of cosmetic treatment. If your oral evaluation reveals that you have conditions such as malocclusion (misaligned bite) or gum disease, you will most likely need to undergo restorative treatment prior to a smile makeover. Since this treatment typically involves most or all of your teeth, it is referred to as a full mouth reconstruction. Although this may take time, patients are usually thrilled with their new and improved smile.

A highly trained smile makeover dentist will do a careful evaluation of your facial appearance, skin tone, teeth, gum tissue and lips to create your own customized smile. A smile makeover will result in:

· Optimal tooth color. Silver or amalgam fillings will be replaced with tooth colored composite restorations. Teeth whitening will then be performed to whiten and brighten dull, stained teeth. Tooth color and shading are important considerations during your evaluation for porcelain veneers and/or dental implants.

· Proper alignment. Crooked, overlapping or teeth with gaps can be straightened through orthodontics.

· A full set of teeth. Missing teeth will be replaced by dental implants, bridges or dentures, depending on your individual needs.

· A more contoured look. Uneven teeth will be bonded for improved appearance and gummy smiles will be recontoured for overall improvement in the look of your smile.

· Full face effect. An unshapely face can be improved with certain procedures, such as orthodontics or oral maxillofacial surgery.

Dental Technologies

A very important part of any smile makeover is the process of viewing the potential results before any treatment actually begins. Cosmetic dentists will incorporate a variety of dental technologies to show you the changes that you can expect to see after your smile makeover.

· Before and after photos. Every cosmetic dentist should be able to show you samples of the results you can expect to see. The photos will also give you an idea of the quality of the work that is to be performed by your cosmetic dentist.

· Dental imaging software. Imaging technologies can offer you a preview of your smile makeover results. Your cosmetic dentist may use imaging technology to explain the specifics of your procedure to the dental lab technician or any other dental professionals involved in your makeover.

· Dental study models. Impressions of your teeth will be taken and filled in with plaster to form an exact model of your teeth. The plaster will then be reshaped by trimming away excess areas or enlarging some areas that need more volume. These models will show you every aspect of the changes you can expect to see.

· Dental bonding mockup. Your cosmetic dentist can temporarily bond composite resin materials to your teeth so you can fully see the impact of the procedure before any treatment even begins. For instance, dental bonding allows you to determine how comfortable you are with their look, feel and fit. Adjustments will be made until you are completely comfortable with the function and appearance of your new smile.