Smile Makeover: Preview & Treatment

Authored By: Lesley Ranft

Reviewed By: Larry Addleson, DDS, FAACD

• Smile Makeover Basics

An integral part of a Smile Makeover process is the preview of potential results you receive before treatment begins. Cosmetic dentists incorporate a variety of dental technologies to show you the changes that you can expect to see in your smile.

• Dental Imaging Software: Imaging technologies offer a preview of your Smile Makeover results. Your dentist may use imaging technology to communicate the specifications for your procedure to the dental lab technician or any other dental professionals involved in your treatment plan. However, a digital image only gives you an idea of what you might look like when the makeover is complete; it may not fully match your final results.
• Before and After Photos: Before and after photos of other patients who have had Smile Makeovers offer samples of the results you may expect to see. The photos may also give you an idea of the quality of work performed by your cosmetic dentist.

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• Dental Study Models: Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and fill it with plaster to form an exact model of your teeth. The plaster can then be reshaped by trimming away excess areas or enlarging areas that require more volume. Dentists use study models to show you every aspect of the changes you can expect to see with your makeover. Dental lab technicians also use study models as guides for fabricating makeover materials like crowns or veneers.
• Dental Bonding Mockup: Dental bonding may serve as a mockup of your Smile Makeover. The dentist can temporarily bond composite resin material to your teeth so you can fully visualize the impact of the procedure before treatment begins. In the case of veneers, dental bonding allows you to identify how comfortable you are with their look, feel, and fit. Adjustments may be made until you are comfortable with the function and appearance of your new smile. Temporary bondings have no lasting impact on your teeth once they are removed.

Smile Makeover Treatment Planning

Your cosmetic dentist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, gums, underlying support structure, and bite (occlusion) to determine candidacy for a Smile Makeover. You may need to have old restorations repaired, undergo treatment for oral health conditions, or correct a malocclusion before your Smile Makeover is performed. The repair of old restorations or malocclusion often involves most or all of the teeth and is therefore called a full mouth reconstruction.

Other dental professionals may be involved in your treatment plan. These professionals may include a dental lab technician, prosthodontist, endodontist, periodontist, orthodontist, or an oral maxillofacial surgeon. During your oral health evaluation for veneers and crowns, your cosmetic dentist may create a wax model mockup of temporary teeth to accurately communicate the requirements of your procedure to the dental lab technician. Temporaries and wax mockups also offer you a preview of the expected outcome to ensure that you are comfortable with the proposed treatment plan.

The duration of treatment and cost of your Smile Makeover will vary depending on your dentist, your location, your level of insurance, and the state of your oral health. A Smile Makeover may take significantly longer if your dentist identifies any underlying oral health issues before beginning treatment. Although these restorative procedures may be covered in part by your dental insurance carrier, you will still end up paying more for treatment than someone with immaculate oral health.

• Smile Makeover Basics

[Updated May 2008]

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