Smile Makeovers: Benefits, Treatments and the Steps Involved

If you’re dealing with more than one thing you’d like to change about your smile, such as stained, chipped, crooked, gapped or missing teeth, a smile makeover brings it all together into one plan. It combines cosmetic and restorative treatments, personalized to you, to change the color, shape, size and alignment of your teeth for a healthier, more confident smile.

Benefits of a Smile Makeover

• More confidence. It’s easier to smile, speak and laugh freely when you’re proud of your teeth.
• Relief from discomfort. Fixing missing or broken teeth and bite problems can relieve the pain they cause.
• Better oral health. Treating decay, replacing missing teeth and straightening crowded teeth makes your smile easier to keep clean.
• A boost in your social and professional life. Many patients find a smile they like changes how they show up in every part of life.

Treatments a Smile Makeover Can Include

• Teeth whitening for yellowing and stains
• Bonding and veneers for chips, small gaps and uneven teeth
• Crowns, fillings and root canals for decay and more significant damage
• Implants, bridges or dentures for missing teeth
• Braces or Invisalign for crooked teeth and gaps
• Gum contouring to balance gums and teeth
• Extractions when a tooth can’t be saved

The Steps Involved

1. Your First Visit

We examine your teeth, gums and bite and talk about what you’d like to change. This may include X-rays, photos and impressions to check for decay, gum disease, gaps, stains, misalignment, missing or damaged teeth, and excess gum tissue.

2. A Custom Treatment Plan

Every smile is different, so your plan is built around your goals, your oral health and how your smile fits your face. We’ll often give you more than one option, then walk through the plan, number of visits, cost and what to expect. Any health issues like decay or gum disease are treated first, before cosmetic work.

3. Treatment

Your makeover may be spread over a few weeks or months, depending on the treatments involved. Some, like implants or Invisalign, happen in phases and can take up to about nine months. Keep every appointment and follow your instructions for the best results. Call us right away if you notice severe pain, swelling that won’t go down, fever, heavy bleeding or signs of infection.

4. Aftercare

Right after treatment:

• Rest, especially after any surgical procedure.
• Take medication as prescribed, and use cold packs for swelling.
• Stick to soft foods like yogurt, avocado, scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes until you’ve healed.
• Avoid tobacco.

For the long term:

• Brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily.
• Don’t use your teeth as tools, and avoid hard, crunchy items.
• Limit sugary, acidic and strongly colored foods and drinks.
• Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth, and a sports guard for contact sports.
• Keep up with regular checkups.

Ready to Start?

Learn more about the possibilities in Cosmetic Dentistry: What It Can Do, or explore smile makeovers at daily DENTAL & bracesbar. Book a consultation at our Dublin, Grove City or Gahanna office.