What is Smile Makeover? Is it Painful, its benefits, Procedures and How Long it Last?

Healthy white smiles every day! Creating beautiful smiles for all ages. The art of dentistry you can’t wait to tell your friends about .The experience you can count on.  The journey of thousand smiles begins with one stepSMILE MAKEOVERS!

Smile! It lets your teeth breathe. Having teeth and the ability to use them in a smile is the most precious quality humans have. Smiling with confidence makes you feel great. But hey! 

Smile Makeover

Are you the one who is not happy with your smile?

Are you trying to avoid showing your teeth in public and in photographs?

No worries! Take a deep breath and be thankful that you are living in a world full of technologies and advancements especially in dentistry. You can achieve the smile that you wish with a simple process– Smile Makeover or in medical terms– Cosmetic Dental Procedures or Esthetic Dentistry.

If you feel that your teeth don’t have that glow that you longs for or have the following questions in your mind, visit your dental specialist. 

  • Are your teeth appearing yellow or stained?
  • Are there any gaps or crowding between your teeth?
  • Are your teeth chipped or cracked due to traumatic injury or accident?
  • Are they not straight or aligned properly?
  • All these questions have answers with only one person- our skilled dentists. 

What is a Smile Makeover?

It’s a process that not only improves your smile but gives you the confidence to laugh freely and show your pearly white teeth without any hesitation. 

Is a Smile Makeover Painful?

Not at all!  It doesn’t interfere with soft gums and surrounding tissues. 

Patient’s Desires and Expectations

This is the most important point that is focused on before starting the journey of a smile makeover. Your dentist will listen to you carefully and understands your chief complaints and desires. After proper reviewing the patient’s dental and medical history, proper dental examination involving radio graphs (X-rays), your dentist will decide on a complete makeover of your teeth. 

Based on a study by Canadian Dental Association, three out of four Canadians visit their dentist at least once a year. 84% of them have good oral health. 

A case from the Residency in Cosmetic Dentistry Program held at University of Toronto:

A 44-year-old lady has a chief complaint of dark yellowish discoloration and pits in her upper front teeth. After discussing with the patient, the teeth whitening process (bleaching) and porcelain veneering is done and that improved the discoloration to a great extent and the lady was very much satisfied with the results. 

Another case study was taken in which a  58 years old male who was a flight attendant, revealed that he was  embarrassed and  unhappy with the appearance of his smile in public . His desire was to have a Hollywood Smile (very white teeth with perfect alignment). After complete examination and diagnosis, his dentist discussed the treatment plan with the patient which included:-

  • Gum Reshaping
  • Alignment of Teeth
  • Lengthen upper front teeth
  • Whiter and brighter dentition

By following step by step procedures, the dentist succeeded in fulfilling the patient’s desire of Hollywood Smile and giving him a complete smile makeover.

What are the Benefits of a Smile Makeover?

Aesthetic which includes:-

  • Good looking teeth
  • Beautiful dazzling smile
  • Improved self-confidence
  • Positive attitude
  • Perfect Alignment

Health that includes:-

  • Strengthened teeth- using Veneers (very thin porcelain shells) which bond to the tooth and provides strength. 
  • Improved oral hygiene- flossing, use of mouthwash and brushing twice gives good oral health. 

What does a Smile Makeover Procedure Involves?

Reshaping Gums

In many people, gums are visible while smiling (gummy smile) or it appears red which is a sign of the onset of any gum disease. In gum reshaping, the infected tissue is removed and grafting is done.

Teeth Whitening

It’s so embarrassing when someone mocks you by pointing out your stained teeth which could happen because of any reason like excessive coffee, excessive alcohol or tobacco chewing. Tooth whitening is the one solution to change the color of the teeth and making them pearly white. 

Restore Damaged Teeth/ Missing Teeth

Due to a traumatic injury or accident, if there is a cavity chipped or cracked tooth, porcelain or resin veneers are used to create a natural-looking smile

Braces

It’s an orthodontic procedure that involves the use of braces to correct spaces between teeth or crowded teeth. Braces can be of many colors which includes Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow and many more.

Multicolour Braces

Enamel Shaping

It’s a quick painless procedure to correct small problems like uneven or crowded teeth. 

Composite/ Tooth Coloured Bonding

This treatment is very quick that involves cleaning the tooth, applying a mild bonding solution and applying composite resin and shaping it. 

Dental Crowns

Can be used to lengthen the tooth or in a cracked, chipped tooth.

How Long does the Smile Makeover Last?

Regular visits and follow-ups to your dentist will help in improving the life of veneers, crowns, restorations and they last for years. The smile makeover process can change the length, width, shape and colour of the tooth. Some images of before and after treatment are

Smile Before and After

Oral health is the first choice of Canadian dentists for their patients. Canadian Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a non-profit organisation having skilled dentists that promote new technologies in cosmetic dentistry.

But there is a lot more to do to improve the oral health condition in Canada especially for senior citizens, low-income populations, children, refugees and those who can’t reach dental health centres. 

According to the Canadian Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 70% of the cost of treatment is covered by public insurance and the rest includes-

  • Third party insurance
  • Private dental insurance
  • Directly out of pocket 
  • Government-subsidised programs.

The federal public oral health programs and universities and social welfare groups provide health care with discounts to vulnerable groups. Cosmetic Dentistry leaves you with a dazzling smile. 

The great words by Mother Teresa– “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” So, Smile while you have teeth!

Dr Shradha Godara
Dr Shradha Godara

Shradha Godara, a dentist by profession, is now a homemaker because of her family needs. In her free time, Dr Godara loves writing articles on health issues especially dental-related that allows her to remain aware and knowledgeable about new dental diseases and their preventive measures.