Smile Makeovers – Why Are They Important and How to Give Your Smile a Makeover

Smile makeovers are important because they promote dental health. By fixing the appearance of your smile, you get the necessary motivation to better care for your oral health. Besides, a beautiful smile easily equates to a more confident demeanor.

What Is a Smile Makeover?

It is a term in cosmetic dentistry referring to dental treatments and procedures that can transform the appearance of a smile. At Kennedy North Dentistry, we employ various dental protocols for smile makeovers in Caledon, ON. One patient may benefit from a single cosmetic procedure, while others may require multiple cosmetic interventions by our dentists to transform their smile.

A smile makeover comprises procedures that alter various aspects of the oral cavity. Therefore, it does not only entail teeth makeover, but also contouring of the gum tissue. A cosmetic dentist will be sure to cover all necessary grounds to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.

How Can You Give Yourself a Smile Makeover?

The number of procedures you undergo during your dental makeover largely depends on your preferences regarding the appearance of your smile. The more changes you desire in your smile, the more dental procedures may be necessary to meet your dental expectations. Some of the dental processes in smile makeovers include:

1. Teeth contouring – entails dental protocols to change the size and shape of teeth. The contouring process modifies any flaws with the external framework of your teeth. It can help overcome usual shapes and sizes, cracks, fractures, and chips on teeth’ enamels.
2. Teeth replacement – tooth loss is a serious dental problem in dentistry among both children and adults. Replacing your missing teeth is not solely a cosmetic solution. It will impact the functioning of your oral cavity, which is why dental experts have multiple dental restorations to meet this need.
3. Teeth whitening – dental discoloration is a major setback regarding the appearance of teeth. If you have stubborn stains or dull and yellowed teeth, various approaches can help brighten and whiten your smile.
4. Teeth spacing – the distance between one tooth and the other influences your smile’s appearance. Teeth spacing addresses dental flaws like overcrowding, crookedness, and spaces between teeth. Typically, a dentist would recommend wearing metal braces to shift teeth. A cosmetic alternative for orthodontic treatment entails wearing invisible braces like Invisalign®.
5. Gum contouring – the positioning of your gums relative to your tooth roots affects your appearance when you smile. Gum contouring, also known as sculpting, is a necessary cosmetic procedure for heightening or lowering the gum line. The goal is to combat a gummy smile and overcome gum recession, both dental flaws that affect your smile’s appearance.

What Alternatives Exist for Smile Makeovers?

When you decide to start your smile makeover process, understand that you may need more than one dental restoration to achieve your dental expectations. Dentists employ various appliances, including the following:

1. Dental bonding – is a dental procedure that adheres a tooth-colored resin on teeth’ enamels to improve their appearance. The composite resin is usually putty-like, making it easy to mold into the perfect shape and size.
2. Dental veneers – are porcelain shell-like restorations that restore teeth’ enamels. Dental veneers are suitable for masking flaws on the front side of teeth only, making them perfect for front teeth restorations. In many cases, cosmetic dental experts use dental veneers as alternatives to composite bonding, particularly for patients looking for longer-lasting solutions.
3. Dental crowns – are tooth-shaped, tooth-colored porcelain materials that cap the top part of teeth to repair and restore their structural framework. Dental crowns provide more coverage than veneers teeth because they encapsulate the entire tooth, not just the front side. When your dentist determines that you have significant damage to your teeth, (s)he will recommend getting dental crowns instead of oral veneers.
4. Dental bridges – are oral appliances for replacing lost teeth. They feature two dental crowns and an artificial tooth. The more teeth you need to replace, the more artificial teeth are in your dental bridgework. However, dental bridges are perfect for replacing between 1 and 4 teeth in a row.
5. Dentures – are a set of artificial teeth bound to a gum-like base that replaces lost teeth and the surrounding soft tissues. They are a perfect alternative to dental bridges for replacing multiple subsequent missing teeth.