When I see patients during their cosmetic dentistry consult, the first thing I do is put a picture of their smile up on the screen. Then I ask them for a punch list of the things they want to change. Almost always, the number one thing is the color of their teeth.
However, to achieve a harmonious smile sometimes this requires more than just teeth whitening. What they see is a smile that needs to be whiter, and what I see are design elements that should be tweaked. What we can both agree on is that they want to improve their smile.
There are two ways we can improve a patient’s smile – a smile enhancement or a smile makeover. Choosing the best treatment plan will depend on the patient’s overall dental health and the current aesthetic of their smile.
What is a smile enhancement?
A smile enhancement is a cosmetic dentistry case that involves four or less teeth. Typically, these teeth are what we call the main actors and the supporting actors – or the two front teeth and the two adjacent teeth.
If a patient is in good dental health, we can enhance their smile by addressing just these four teeth with cosmetic dentistry. This is typically done with veneers, or adult orthodontics and then porcelain veneers.
While this treatment is marketed as a same-day smile, it does take six to eight months for the patient to receive the permanent denture, or hybrid prosthesis.
Changing these two or four teeth will change your life. But please heed the advice of your dentist when it comes to the color of your veneers. Many people want these restorations to be whiter than their natural teeth. However, following their wishes would be irresponsible on my part because the rest of their smile will never be as white as their veneers.
What is a smile makeover?
While the goal of a smile makeover is the same as a smile enhancement, it requires that we address a more global issue to achieve the same result. Typically, these patients need to address their arch form or the arrangement of their teeth, and in some cases their gumline. This requires cosmetic dentistry or adult orthodontics on more than four teeth. For example,
- A narrow arch form. When a patient has a narrow arch form, their teeth typically do not fill out the width of their mouth. Addressing this takes planning and time. It may start with Invisalign to widen the arch and then 10 veneers to address the shape and color of the teeth.
- Tooth arrangement. When we talk about tooth arrangement, what we are describing is a smile that has teeth at many different angles. This treatment may also require Invisalign. Or, if the case allows for it, instant orthodontics with veneers. The treatment and result are very similar to that of a narrow arch form.
- A gummy smile. Someone with a gummy smile has very high lip dynamics and shows a lot of gum when they smile. We can’t shorten the gums, so what we do in this case is make the teeth longer with veneers so the size of tooth to gum is more proportionate. These patients will notice that their smile looks more balanced after treatment.
Things to keep in mind
With a smile makeover, we can whiten teeth more than with a smile enhancement because of the number of veneers being placed. When we place 10 or more veneers, all you will typically see when you smile is the veneers, which we can make much whiter than the natural teeth.
During a smile makeover, we can also place a trial smile in the office so you can see what your smile will look like after treatment. Seeing this 3D model of the smile can be very emotional for patients who have longed for a smile makeover for many years.
Keep in mind, a smile makeover will cost you $25,000 to $30,000. A smile enhancement typically costs between $6,000 and $8,000. If the timing is not right for a smile makeover, we can parlay a smile enhancement into a smile makeover down the road.
Want a New Smile?
Whether you are looking for a smile enhancement or a smile makeover, our skilled team can provide expert advice on how to improve your smile. Schedule an appointment with our cosmetic dentist office in Brandon, FL to find out which option is best for you.
