At first glance, a smile makeover can feel overwhelming and complicated. You may not know details about the many potential procedures involved; you simply want to come out on the other side with a beautiful grin! To better understand your smile makeover treatment plan, you should know what aesthetic components your dentist considers in creating it.
A Complete Smile
While some people who have lost teeth think replacement is unnecessary, especially for molars, missing teeth can be a huge, eye-catching flaw in your smile. Not only is the gap noticeable, but the other teeth may shift to compensate for the hole, altering how all of them look in your mouth.
Although you should certainly consider all replacement options like dentures and dental bridges, the most aesthetic (as well as the healthiest) solution is dental implants. These firmly embedded posts prevent jawbone loss, which can make your facial shape shrink over time. Dental implants look lifelike and preserve your youthful jaw structure, helping you and your smile stay attractive.
Teeth Coloration
With age, white objects often turn yellow or dull, and the same happens with teeth. As a result, white teeth are associated with beauty and youth, which is why many smile makeovers usually involve brightening the color of the patient’s teeth.
Most of the time, coloration of teeth can be improved by as many as 10 shades with professional whitening treatment. However, for those who have teeth that won’t respond to this, veneers can easily and quickly cover discoloration.
Teeth Uniformity
The size and shape of your individual teeth matter, but you also have to think about how your teeth look together as a whole smile. Symmetry has long been identified as an attractive feature in humans. If you have a misshapen tooth on one side of your mouth, it could draw the wrong kind of attention. Depending on the extent of the issue, this situation most often requires crowns or veneers to make your teeth look more naturally uniform and even.
Teeth-to-Gums Balance
You might not initially give much thought to your gums when considering cosmetic components of your smile, but they contribute quite a bit to your appearance. Just as it can be unattractive to have receding gums, having a “gummy smile” or gum tissue that covers too much tooth structure can make your teeth appear small.
Gum recontouring simply removes the excess tissue gently with a soft tissue laser. This slight adjustment with cutting-edge technology can make your teeth look longer and your overall smile look more balanced.
In the end, the exact procedures will vary from patient to patient, but your dentist will always keep these traits in the back of their mind when planning a smile makeover. With this knowledge, you can better understand the strategy they use to deliver your ideal, natural-looking grin.
About the Practice
The team at Sparkling Smiles Fayetteville doesn’t pressure patients into treatment(s) they don’t need. In fact, our office is a judgment-free zone. Dr. Dave Lee and Dr. Lauren Lee Polito take the time to make sure that your treatment plan reflects your personal goals and best interests. We can walk you through every step of the process starting with a consultation. To schedule your appointment, call our Fayetteville office at 770-679-2109 or visit our Contact Us page here.