What does a smile makeover involve

So you have decided to give yourself a makeover – one that is perhaps more than skin deep. A smile makeover is not about following a cookie-cutter template, but revealing your best, natural-looking smile that showcases your unique personality. The process has the added benefit of improving long-term dental health by correcting chronic gum and teeth problems.

A smile makeover is a process that requires careful planning for the individual patient and may require more than one procedure, such as:

• teeth contouring to straighten crooked teeth, replace missing teeth and close gaps between teeth.

• tooth reshaping to repair chipped or broken teeth.

• teeth whitening to remove stains and whiten discoloured teeth.

• gum reshaping to correct gummy smiles or receding gums.

• bite adjustment or restoration to restore a natural, comfortable bite. The procedure often creates the appearance of fuller lips and cheeks.

Some of these procedures are discussed here.

Planning a smile makeover

As the patient, your expectations will guide your dentist as they plan your smile makeover. To that end, you should give some thought regarding the following, at the very least:

• Do you have any dental health issues that currently cause you discomfort?

• Are there specific aspects of your smile that you would like to improve?

• Do you have a budget?

Based on your priorities and the results of the dental examination, your dentist will put together a list of options, along with their benefits, drawbacks and prices. Typically, your dentist will also provide a 3-dimensional rendition of how these procedures will enhance your smile. These procedures may require several visits – your dentist should be able to give you a schedule.

Once your smile makeover is complete, dental care will be as important as ever. Besides the recommended daily dental cleaning, it is important to prioritise routine dental check-ups and in certain cases, occasional procedures to maintain the appearance of your smile.