Who Is a Good Candidate for a Smile Makeover?

If you are unhappy with certain aspects of your smile, you do not have to live with it forever. With a smile makeover, you can achieve a straighter, brighter smile. A general dentist will perform these procedures on patients with good oral health and who can meet a few other requirements.

What is a smile makeover?

A smile makeover may involve various dental procedures aimed at improving the smile's appearance. Some of these cosmetic procedures are:

• Dental bonding: A tooth-colored filling material that improves minor imperfections.
• Dental crowns: Toothlike caps that are cemented onto the teeth to correct moderate to severe imperfections.
• Veneers: Waferlike, enamel-colored shells that fit over the fronts of the teeth to deliver a more picture-perfect smile.
• Dental implants: Permanent artificial teeth roots anchored into the jawbone, then topped with a crown to mimic the appearance of real teeth.
• Gum contouring: A procedure that reshapes the gums to appear more aesthetically pleasing.
• Tooth reshaping (odontoplasty): A procedure in which the enamel is reshaped to look more symmetrical.
• Teeth whitening: A process in which bleaching agents lighten stains on the visible enamel of teeth.

Everyone’s smile makeover will look different depending on what it is they want to change about their smile. If tooth discoloration and missing teeth are the problem, patients may merely need teeth whitening and a dental implant to reach their dream look. On the other end of the spectrum, patients who want a more symmetrical, less gummy smile may get dental veneers and gum contouring.

Good candidates

Whatever the cosmetic imperfection, the dentist will first evaluate the patient to ensure they are a good candidate for their desired smile makeover. Patients must have generally good oral health. If a tooth is severely decayed, they will need to have it restored (such as through root canal therapy) before they can get cosmetic dental work done. This is because smile makeovers focus more on the smile's appearance instead of the mouth's health. They are not a solution to inflamed gums from periodontal disease or teeth discolored from decay.

The dentist will inspect the teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth to determine if the patient qualifies for a smile makeover. They will also look at the patient's bite patterns and alignment. To be safe, they may even request that the patient receive dental X-rays to reveal any issues hidden in the jawbone or beneath the gums.

Besides oral health, a good candidate would have a cosmetic imperfection that is treatable through cosmetic dentistry. This also means the patient must have realistic expectations for the result. General dentists can discuss possible procedure outcomes to help patients manage their expectations.

What a smile makeover can do

Smile makeovers can correct a range of cosmetic issues. Every smile is different, and every patient has different pain points. The dentist will develop a smile makeover plan that helps each patient get closer to the smile of their dreams. Some examples of common cosmetic issues that may be “made over” include:

• Missing teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Discolored teeth
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Teeth that are too long
• Uneven smiles
• Gummy smiles