Smile Makeover – Lancaster, PA
Helping You Achieve a Brighter, More Confident Smile
Creating the smile of your dreams isn’t always as simple as having a single cosmetic dentistry treatment performed. Sometimes there may be multiple improvements you want to make, and it’s not always clear where you should begin. With a smile makeover, Dr. Herres and Dr. Votilla can address all of your cosmetic concerns, leaving you with teeth that you can show off without hesitation. Call us today to begin the smile makeover process!
Why Choose Dentistry for Life for Smile Makeovers?
- Accurate Putty-Free Digital Impressions
- Team That Strives to Exceed Your Expectations
- Practice That Always Puts Comfort First
How Does a Smile Makeover Work?
A smile makeover is actually a combination of many treatments intended to improve the appearance of the teeth. The process is highly customizable; the exact procedures that make up the treatment plan will depend on the needs and goals of the patient. As such, the first step of a smile makeover is to schedule a consultation with our team so that we can take a look at your teeth and ask about what you’re trying to accomplish.
Your smile makeover plan could involve any combination of the following procedures:
- Veneers for covering the teeth to hide chips and various other imperfections.
- Metal-free dental restorations for repairing teeth in a natural-looking way.
- Dental bonding for quickly fixing a variety of minor dental flaws.
- Teeth whitening for addressing dental stains and discoloration.
- Invisalign® for straightening crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth.
The Benefits of Getting a Smile Makeover
Having a smile makeover performed to correct your cosmetic dental flaws can be more beneficial than you realize. For example:
- A smile that you’re proud of can give your overall self-esteem a boost.
- You will be able to make a better first impression at job interviews, which can expand your professional opportunities.
- The results of your smile makeover will look very natural thanks to the lifelike materials used.
- You can often keep your newly enhanced grin for a very long time with the right kind of care.
- The process can ultimately improve your oral health depending on the types of changes made (such as repairing cracked teeth).
Understanding the Cost of a Smile Makeover
There’s no way to know how much your smile makeover will cost until our team has completed an examination of your mouth. After all, no two smile makeover plans are exactly the same, and different cosmetic dental treatments can carry very different prices.
At your initial consultation, we can work with you to create a treatment plan and give you an estimate of what the cost will look like. Then we’ll walk you through your payment options. Your dental insurance most likely will not pay for purely cosmetic procedures; however, you can still apply for dental financing in order to help the cost of your care fit into your budget more easily.
Smile Makeover FAQs
Is a Smile Makeover Safe?
Rest assured that smile makeovers are entirely safe; they won’t cause harm to your teeth, gums, or any other part of your body.
In particular, the procedures included in these makeovers are vetted by dentists. The gels and resins used in teeth whitening and dental bonding (respectively) are non-toxic. Similarly, veneers and crowns compensate for removed enamel once placed on your teeth.
Dentists also ensure a patient is suited for the cosmetic work in question. For instance, they’ll treat pre-existing oral conditions – tooth decay, gum disease, etc. – before doing anything aesthetic-related. This measure ensures the final results look good and don’t interfere with oral health.
How Can a Smile Makeover Change Your Life?
While a smile makeover may seem frivolous, this cosmetic service can improve your quality of life. You just need to recognize its transformative benefits.
One example is how a makeover motivates good oral care. Once treatment makes your smile look clean and healthy, you’ll naturally want to look after it more closely. This improved hygiene – more frequent brushing, flossing, etc. – would then lead to great oral health.
A smile makeover would also enhance your emotional life. After all, it’d encourage you to grin more often – a habit that causes your body to release stress-reducing endorphins. That means you’d feel calmer and more confident as you show off your smile to onlookers.
Can You Undergo Multiple Procedures During One Appointment?
Due to how it works, yes – a smile makeover lets you get multiple procedures during one appointment. It’s just a matter of which procedures you include in your final treatment.
Many smile makeovers arrange several procedures during one “visit.” For instance, the same appointment may involve both cosmetic dental bonding and teeth whitening. The same visit could also prepare some teeth for veneers and others for crowns.
Of course, any visits involving more than one procedure will take longer than usual. A patient may want to consider sedation to make a lengthy appointment feel less drawn out.
Can I See Smile Makeover Results Ahead of Time?
It’s quite possible to see smile makeover results before your treatment. That said, how you go about that process will depend on the practice you visit.
Look at our own Dentistry for Life, for example. We offer virtual smile design – software that can “preview” a makeover’s expected results beforehand. Based on which procedures you want your makeover to include, smile design software assures you that your treatment will turn out well.
On the other hand, some dentists offer before-and-after photos. You’d ask these dental providers for pictures of patients who’ve received work similar to what you want.
Do Smile Makeovers Have an Age Limit?
Smile makeovers can be very complex, so you might be wondering if they have a minimum or maximum age limit. Other than children, patients of any age can undergo a smile makeover treatment. Qualifying has less to do with how old you are and more to do with your oral health. You should be a good candidate as long as you don’t have tooth decay, gum disease, or other abnormalities. If you have one of these issues, we will need to address it before we can move forward with your smile makeover treatment.
Do Smile Makeovers Hurt?
Many people are hesitant to commit to all sorts of dental treatment because they are worried that it will be painful. The good news is that we will always do everything we can to help you feel as comfortable as possible in the dental chair. Most cosmetic dental treatments are noninvasive, so they don’t even require a local anesthetic. If you are getting a procedure that involves reshaping your tooth, like a veneer or dental crown, the area will be numbed with a local anesthetic ahead of time. You may experience some soreness for a few days afterward, but this can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses.
How Long Is a Smile Makeover?
The duration of smile makeovers can vary significantly. The number and type of procedures that you are getting will determine how long it takes. Some procedures are completed in a single appointment. This includes dental bonding, teeth whitening, and BOTOX. Other treatments, like veneers and dental restorations usually take two visits. If you are replacing teeth with dental implants or getting Invisalign, this process can take several months. During your consultation, we will be able to give you a more specific estimate based on your unique plan.
How Do You Maintain Smile Makeover Results?
The best way to maintain the results of your smile makeover is to practice excellent oral hygiene. This means brushing twice, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash every day. You should also attend dental checkups twice per year. Avoid bad oral habits, like teeth grinding, biting your nails, munching on ice, and smoking. You can also minimize staining by limiting dark-colored foods and drinks, like wine, tea, and coffee.