Smile Makeover FAQs

Your healthy teeth may function fine but may not look as good as you want them to. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on enhancing the overall appearance of your already healthy smile. A smile makeover is part of this area of dentistry, and it includes several services customized to your needs to help you achieve the smile you desire. Learn more about smile makeover FAQs and find out if it would be a good option for you.

What Is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is the shorthand way to refer to a package of cosmetic services that make your smile look great. The types of services you get with a smile makeover are unique to your needs.

To ensure you get the right services, you will talk to your dentist before starting any treatment. The dentist may ask about how you want to change the look of your smile. You may want whiter, straighter teeth or have concerns about gaps between your teeth.

After discussing what you want from a smile makeover, the dentist will choose the best treatments for the process.

Why You Might Need a Smile Makeover

You may choose a smile makeover if you recognize that you need to change several things about your smile but don’t know where to start.

Perhaps you notice that your smile looks yellowish or misaligned. Or, you want to improve the look of your smile to make a better impression during job interviews.

A great-looking smile is vital when meeting people, whether online or in the real world. A survey showed almost half of adults polled, 48%, reported the smile as the most memorable part of a person after their first meeting. Additionally, a great smile affects how people see you. Those with perfect smiles appear more attractive and confident compared to those with flaws in their smiles.

Regardless of why you want to get a better smile, a smile makeover may be the way to help you.

Who Is a Good Smile Makeover Candidate?

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for a smile makeover, at least initially. First, you need to commit to the process. If you cannot dedicate yourself to the various treatments and dental appointments needed to receive them, you may want to get one cosmetic service instead of several.

Second, you must have healthy teeth and gums. A smile makeover can only go so far as to make your teeth look good. Gum disease and plaque can detract from your appearance. For instance, gum disease can turn the gums red and painful. Plaque stains the teeth surfaces and can make decay and gum disease more likely.

Your dentist will need to correct any oral health problems you have first before you start your smile makeover process.

How Long Does a Smile Makeover Take?

How long you need to complete a smile makeover depends on the types of services you need. For instance, in-office whitening may only take one or two visits to yield results. However, Invisalign requires several weeks to improve your dental alignment.

Talk to your dentist about the time your smile makeover will require for a personalized answer.

What Services Does a Dentist Perform with a Smile Makeover?

When you get a smile makeover, your dentist selects from the many cosmetic services they perform to create your perfect smile. These options include:

• Invisalign to straighten teeth
• Teeth whitening to correct discoloration
• Dental veneers or composite bonding to hide gaps between teeth or poorly shaped teeth
• Dental implants to permanently replace missing teeth in your smile

What makes a smile makeover special is how the dentist chooses these services to enhance the look of your entire face. The final results will give you a great-looking grin that fits well with the shape of your face, the size and shape of your mouth, and the appearance of the other teeth.

Is a Smile Makeover the Same as Full Mouth Rehabilitation?

A smile makeover differs significantly from a full mouth rehabilitation. The former provides cosmetic improvement to your teeth. However, a full mouth rehabilitation restores function and comfort to your mouth.

For example, if you need teeth straightening and whitening, you may have a smile makeover. But if you suffer from TMJ and have worn down the surfaces of your teeth or have bite problems, you may need the restorative services of a full mouth rehabilitation.

The most significant difference between these services is whether they serve a cosmetic purpose or restore damage to the mouth and teeth.

Do Cosmetic Dental Services Hurt?

Most cosmetic dental services don’t cause pain. Invisalign slowly and gently corrects the positions of your teeth. You may only have minor discomfort when you use this system.

If you opt for in-office whitening, your dentist will use ingredients that mitigate sensitivity after the process.

Dental veneers or composite bonding cover the surfaces of teeth and don’t usually cause pain when preparing the teeth or placing the veneers or bonding.

The only invasive treatment for a smile makeover is a dental implant. This service requires surgery to place the implant screw into your jawbone and a later procedure to place the abutment and crown on top. Because your dentist will keep you numb during the procedure, you won’t feel anything until the anesthesia wears off. However, the discomfort during healing after the placement surgeries for implants becomes worthwhile because you will enjoy a permanent tooth replacement that feels just like your other teeth.

If you feel concerned about pain during the smile makeover process, talk to your dentist about ways to feel more comfortable.

Does Insurance Cover a Smile Makeover?

You should talk to your provider about whether your dental insurance covers the procedures included in a smile makeover. Some dental policies don’t cover cosmetic treatments.

However, you can have help paying for your smile makeover. At Matthews Family Dentistry, we offer multiple easy payment options for your services. Also, be sure to check our promotions page to see if we have cosmetic services available among our special offers.

Don’t let a lack of insurance coverage keep you from getting a smile makeover. With flexible payment options and discounts, you can find that a smile makeover can be affordable.

Are You Ready for a More Beautiful Smile?

Why not treat yourself to a more beautiful smile? Schedule a consultation with one of our dentists to learn more about a smile makeover and what the process will look like for you. You deserve a smile that you feel proud to show the world. Our dentists at Matthews Family Dentistry can help you to achieve that smile.