Smile Makeover
A smile makeover is the process of improving the appearance of your smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental veneers, composite bonding, dental implants, and teeth whitening.
Some of the factors taken into consideration include your facial appearance, your skin tone, hair color, your teeth, their color, length width, and shape, your gum tissue, and lips. Smile makeovers are performed for many reasons and are customized according to your personal considerations.
Aspects and Features of Your Smile
What is it that you like or dislike about your smile? Some aspects that your dentist will review with you and that could be improved upon include:
* Tooth Color- Silver or amalgam fillings can be replaced with natural colored composite restorations, while teeth whitening can easily improve the color of your teeth. Tooth color is an important consideration during the preparation for various procedures, including porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, bonding, and dental implants.
A well-shaped smile with healthy, white teeth suggests a youthful appearance. The shade your dentist will select for both teeth whitening and possible veneers is evaluated with consideration given to the tone and color of your face and hair. Dentists are skilled at finding the right balance with a brighter, whiter smile and maintaining your natural tooth color.
* Alignment and Spacing- Teeth that are crooked, overlapping, or have gaps between them can be improved through orthodontics or Invisalign, and corrected with veneers.
* Missing Teeth- One or more missing teeth will negatively impact the appearance of your smile, as well as affecting your bite and increasing the risk for tooth decay, making replacement an integral part of oral health and aesthetics.
* Harmony and Balance- Uneven, chipped or cracked teeth can be bonded for an improved appearance, and a gummy smile can be addressed with gum contoured to help improve the look of your smile.
* Fuller Lips, Smile and Cheeks- An unshapely or aging face can be rejuvenated with certain procedures in the smile makeover process, including orthodontics or oral maxillofacial surgery.
A cosmetic dentist will work with you to develop a treatment plan designed to achieve what you want from your makeover. This treatment plan might include one or a number of restorative procedures, such as teeth whitening, composite bonding, veneers, dental crowns, orthodontics (braces), oral maxillofacial surgery and gummy smile reduction.
Aesthetic Components of a Smile Makeover
In addition to your teeth in the aesthetic zone of your smile, the section of upper and lower teeth that show when you smile, there are several features of your teeth and smile that your cosmetic dentist will evaluate with you. These include:
* Tooth Length- Long teeth look youthful. Aging results in wear and tear that can result in shorter teeth, and a gummy smile can make your teeth appear shorter. A treatment for shorter teeth can include reshaping and lengthening the front teeth with composite bonding or porcelain veneers. If you have a gummy smile the gum line can be modified to give the appearance of longer teeth. Teeth lengthening can also impact your overall facial appearance.
* Smile Line- This is an imaginary line that follows the edges of your upper teeth from side to side, which should be the same as the curve of your lower lip during your smile.
* Tooth Proportions- Your cosmetic dentist will examine your teeth to determine if they are in correct proportion with each other.
* Tooth Texture and Characterization- An artistic dentist can actually characterize your crowns or veneers to create an ideal appearance, in addition to matching the look and feel of your natural teeth.