3 Secrets for a Successful Smile Makeover Even Without Digital Design

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Digital smile makeovers are becoming increasingly popular. It’s exciting to see a digital version of your current smile as it’s progressively becoming exactly what you’ve envisioned. But what if your dentist doesn’t offer digital smile makeovers? How do you know what to expect?

Advanced cosmetic dentists have created beautiful smiles for decades—even without digital smile technology. Did you know? –  Even if a dentist uses digital technology, there are specific steps advanced cosmetic dentists take to achieve a predictable outcome and a smile makeover you’ll gladly show off.

Secrets of a Success Smile Makeover

Your feedback, the opportunity to wear a temporary version of your new smile, and a final try-in are crucial factors to being confident about your smile makeover. Here’s why.

1. Your Feedback

An advanced cosmetic dentist isn’t simply concerned about giving you a beautiful smile makeover. He or she personalizes your smile so well that it looks like it’s always belonged to you. Throughout the process, your cosmetic dentist will carefully listen as you describe your ideal smile, and he or she will ensure the details are there.

2. Trial Smile Makeover

Skilled cosmetic dentists make a wax model of your new smile design.

  • You’ll snap it in over your teeth as a preview of your smile makeover.
  • You’ll be able to examine it closely and let friends and family see it.
  • If you want changes to the way it looks or feels, your dentist will make the changes to align with the smile you envisioned.

This phase is not complete without your approval. When you give your dentist the okay, your permanent smile makeover will be crafted by a master ceramist.

3. It’s Final When You Say So

Your dentist will temporarily attach your final smile makeover to your teeth. This is another opportunity for you to smile with approval or to explain any hesitation you have. If you’ve chosen a dentist who is an artist, the smile design is only acceptable to your dentist if you also love it.

Smile Makeover Satisfaction with or without a Virtual Model

Even if your dentist offers virtual or digital smile makeovers, your feedback, the trial smile, and a final try-in are phases that must be included to ensure you get the smile you love. If you’re left out of the process, you’ll likely end up with a smile that you’ll want to leave behind in the office. And that’s a waste of time and money.

Before-and-after smile makeover patient photos from Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge, LA.

Dr. Brooksher gave this patient a smile makeover that is healthy and natural-looking

Accredited cosmetic dentists consistently provide stunning smile makeovers. Are there accredited cosmetic dentists in your area or within driving distance?

  • Visit their websites
  • Check their credentials and accomplishments
  • Look at their smile gallery of actual patient photos

Select your dentist carefully—digital design or not—and you’ll get a smile makeover you love.

Steven Brooksher, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.

4 Gummy-Smile Makeover Options that Get Stunning Results

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Have your gums taken over your teeth and your smile? A smile makeover can make a life-changing difference that boosts your confidence. But the options for beautifully transforming your smile require the skill and talent of an artistic cosmetic dentist.

Treatment Options for Your Smile Makeover

Gum Contouring

Expert cosmetic dentists use gingivectomy, or a gum lift, to remove excess gum tissue around your teeth. Removing the tissue will make your teeth look longer.

  • No needles or scalpels are involved.
  • Your cosmetic dentist provides painless treatment with a laser that gently removes excess gum tissue.
  • Sometimes additional cosmetic work is needed to lengthen tooth structure and complete your smile makeover.

Porcelain Veneers

Your cosmetic dentist may need to prepare your teeth before giving you a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, by removing a small amount of enamel (0.05 mm or less) from each tooth. Your dentist may also remove some of the bone beneath the gums. He or she will position porcelain veneers over the fronts of your teeth to make them look longer but natural.

Dental Crowns

Dr. Brooksher used gum contouring and dental crowns for this smile makeover.

Depending on your case, your cosmetic dentist might recommend crowns to lengthen your teeth. He or she must taper the entire tooth for a crown to fit over it properly without affecting your bite. Your dentist will explain what you can expect with crowns versus veneers.

Orthodontics

In some cases, your cosmetic dentist will recommend orthodontic treatment to level your teeth and provide a smile makeover that highlights your teeth—not your gums. What can you expect?

  • Your dentist or orthodontist will provide a treatment plan to move your teeth upward, which will also move your gums upward.
  • The vertical position of your teeth will allow your upper lips to hide your gums.
  • Less gum tissue will show when you smile.

Which Option Is Right for You?

You should entrust your smile makeover only to an advanced cosmetic dentist. Look for a nearby accredited cosmetic dentist and schedule a consultation. He or she will examine your teeth and gums and explain your options for saying goodbye to your gummy smile.

Steven Brooksher, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.

3 Ways a Smile Makeover Can Help Your Recovery from an Eating Disorder

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Some estimates show that as many as 30 million Americans have an eating disorder. An eating disorder can affect your overall health and your oral health. If you’re in recovery, a smile makeover can improve your appearance and your journey to better health.

How Does a Smile Makeover Help?

1. Makes an impression

Your smile is an expression of your personality. It’s one of the first things people notice when they meet you. And it can make a lasting impression.

2. Boosts your confidence

An attractive smile can also boost your self-confidence. Your smile will enhance your facial appearance and help you feel better about yourself.

3. Improves your oral health

Throughout an eating disorder, poor nutrition can affect your teeth and gums. Regular exposure of acid on your teeth—whether it’s caused by vomiting from an eating disorder, a medical condition, or acid reflux—can damage your teeth and gums. Teeth can become brittle and erode. Gums can become irritated, inflamed, and infected. A smile makeover restores your teeth, gums, and your oral health.

What Treatment Is Recommended?

If your smile has been damaged by an eating disorder, cosmetic dentistry can help. But the type of cosmetic dentistry needed to restore your teeth depends on the extent of damage to your teeth and the position of the damaged teeth. Your smile makeover can include one or more of the following:

  • Periodontal (gums) treatment
  • Dental implants
  • Porcelain veneers
  • Porcelain crowns
  • Dental bonding
  • Dentures

Periodontal treatment

If you have swollen, irritated, or infected gum tissue, it needs to be treated. If gum disease is significant, you might be referred to a periodontist (gum specialist) for treatment before your smile makeover begins.

Dental Implants

If an eating disorder has damaged your teeth and resulted in tooth loss, replacing missing teeth is a vital part of your smile makeover. A dental implant can be used to replace each missing tooth. An artificial root form will be placed in your jawbone, and after a healing period, a dental crown will be attached on top. Dental implants mimic natural teeth and are healthy for your jawbone and gums. They are the most effective form of tooth replacement, but they are also the most expensive.

Porcelain Veneers

If you have minimal damage that is limited to the fronts or edges of your teeth, porcelain veneers might be a treatment option for your smile makeover. A custom-made veneer is bonded to the front of each affected tooth. Porcelain mimics the color, translucence, and gloss of natural teeth, so the results will look amazing.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown covers an entire tooth. A tooth that is extensively damaged may be weak and require the protection of a crown. A skilled cosmetic dentist can restore your smile with lifelike ceramic crowns. The crowns will conceal the damage to your teeth from an eating disorder and help you smile with confidence. Dental ceramics can be manipulated to look like beautiful natural teeth.

Dental Bonding

In cases of a short-term eating disorder that caused minimal damage to your teeth, chairside dental bonding might be an option for your smile makeover. Dental bonding can conceal discoloration and minor chips in teeth. This treatment can often be completed in a visit or two.

Unlike porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns, dental bonding is not stain resistant. Depending on how well you take care of it, bonding will need to be replaced every five to ten years. A skilled cosmetic dentist can blend shades of dental composite and make the results look natural.

Dentures

If your budget is limited and you’ve experienced extensive damage to your teeth, or if you have lost many teeth, a partial or a full denture might be recommended. A skilled cosmetic dentist can give you a great smile makeover with natural-looking dentures. Implant overdentures will keep your dentures stable and help them look and feel more like natural teeth.

What Can You Expect with Your Smile Makeover?

The results you get from your smile makeover largely depend on the skill of your dentist. We recommend that you schedule consultations with at least two cosmetic dentists. If there is an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area, you can receive amazing results. Otherwise, search for a dentist with extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. Check dentists’ websites to learn about them. Ask to see before-and-after smile makeover photos of the dentist’s actual patients.

Cosmetic dentistry is an art. So expect to invest money in your smile makeover. But if it’s completed correctly, a smile makeover will be a worthwhile investment that lasts many years. See the example below.

  • Cosmetic dentistry before close-up photo of a female patient’s gummy smile with worn and teeth chipped with spaces between them – from the office of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.
    BEFORE
  • Cosmetic dentistry after close-up smile of a female patient who received porcelain crowns to restore worn and teeth chipped with spaces between them – from the office of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.
    AFTER

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.