SMILE MAKEOVER

The terms are similar, but full mouth reconstruction and a smile makeover are two different things. 

Full mouth reconstruction includes a series of orthodontic procedures to improve both the function and appearance of your smile. Often recommended for patients with severe dental damage or a large number of missing teeth, it often includes these procedures:

• Root canals
• Tooth extraction
• Dental implants and crowns
• Dental bridges

A smile makeover is less about restoring teeth function and oral health, and more focused on improving the aesthetics of healthy teeth through cosmetic dentistry procedures, like braces, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and gum reshaping.

Ultimately, only you and an experienced provider can determine which dental makeover option is best for you and your concerns.

Pros

• A smile makeover can give you a beautiful smile with bright, straight, and well-proportioned teeth.
• The dental work associated with smile makeovers can also improve the appearance of your lips. 
• RealSelf members who said their smile makeover was “Worth It” report that it gave their confidence a big boost. As KatrinaJane says, “it has had a huge positive impact on my life, as I confidently smile all the time now.” 

Cons

• Your full treatment plan may take several months or even a few years to complete. 
• A smile makeover may require several appointments, with different types of dental experts. For example, a cosmetic dentist may offer Invisalign orveneers, but you’ll need to see a periodontist to perform gum reshaping or gum grafts.
• Smile makeovers can be expensive, and some procedures may not be covered by your insurance.  
• Any dental work that requires surgery (like implants) can lead to complications like infections or nerve damage.

Related: Real Housewives of Miami Star Lisa Hochstein Reveals Her New Teeth

• Average Cost:
• $32,326

• Range:
• $13,400 - $59,999

The price of a smile makeover can vary widely, based on which procedures you are having done, the experience level of your dental professionals, and a few other key factors.

See our complete guide to smile makeover costs

The smile makeover photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Smile makeover dental treatments start with an oral exam and design consultation. A cosmetic dentist will assess your teeth and gums, discuss your goals, and recommend the best treatment plan for your situation.

“Every smile makeover is unique,” says Dr. Scott Young, a dentist in Woodlands, Texas. “It all depends on the amount of sound tooth structure you have on each tooth, your bite, and what you’re trying to accomplish.” 

As a study published in Dentistry Today notes, your dentist “must take into account the entire aesthetic zone, along with the mechanics of restoring the teeth to proper form and function.”

Dr. Steven Davidowitz, a cosmetic dentist in New York City, likes to start with an honest, face-to-face conversation. “My goal is to first learn about the patient's chief complaints as well as financial status. It’s important to discuss this up front and set realistic expectations.”

To help inform your treatment plan, your dentist will take detailed photos of you smiling and with different facial expressions, to help them design a smile that’s completely customized.

“By using the photos and my observations of the patient while speaking with them, I learn about their personality, how they speak, expressions they make, how high their smile arches during a big smile versus a social smile,” says Dr. Davidowitz.

	Invisalign nonsurgical	Teeth Whitening nonsurgical	Porcelain Veneers surgical	Dental Bonding nonsurgical	Dental Crown surgical	Dental Implants surgical	Gum Lift surgical
Worth It Rating	81%	93%	79%	89%	81%	81%	96%
Average Cost	$4820	$600	$12573	$1400	$9088	$26979	Not yet available
Downtime	No downtime	No downtime	No downtime	No downtime	Little to no downtime	1–3 days of downtime	Minimal downtime
Anesthesia	No anesthesia	No anesthesia	Local anesthesia	No anesthesia	Local anesthesia	Local anesthesia	Local anesthesia

Smile makeover treatment plans typically include one or more of these common dental procedures. A doctor trained in cosmetic dentistry will be able to help you decide which procedures will most improve your smile.

• Invisalign treatment, an alternative to traditional metal braces, uses clear plastic aligner trays to straighten teeth, close spacing, and correct crowding or bite problems. Treatment time for Invisalign averages about 12 months, but teeth straightening can be an essential first step in the smile makeover process.
• Teeth whitening treatments lighten and brighten yellow or stained teeth. Whitening treatments done by a dentist contain higher amounts of hydrogen peroxide than those you can buy over the counter. Some, like Zoom whitening, use blue-light technology to activate the hydrogen peroxide. Dr. Davidowitz recommends not focusing solely on whitening if you truly want to improve your smile. “Don’t get distracted from the bigger picture—the complete smile. Elements such as shape, contour, and harmony of the teeth in relationship to the lips and face are just as significant as color. So these elements produce an aesthetic effect greater than the sum of its parts,” he explains. 
• Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are applied over existing teeth to hide chips, stains, gaps, crooked teeth, and short or worn teeth. The result is a straight, bright smile that complements the contours of your natural teeth. One study called veneers the “most promising” smile makeover treatment option. Porcelain veneers and ceramic veneers are the most common. “One size does not fit all when it comes to veneers. Even among ceramic veneers, there are many different types. The reason for using one over another is really up to the dentist,” says Dr. Davidowitz. The way forces are distributed within your mouth also plays a role in finding the right veneers. For example, people who severely clench their teeth are going to be treated differently from patients with little jaw muscle mass and less wear and tear on their teeth. Dr. Davidowitz tells patients that they may need to choose between veneers and whitening their natural teeth. Traditional whitening methods aren’t able to whiten inorganic material such as crowns or fillings. “This can result in a terrible mismatch of brightness and color from tooth to tooth," while veneers make it easier to match the natural shading and color of your teeth.
• Dental bonding, a less invasive, cheaper alternative to veneers, uses a composite resin to fill teeth gaps, fix chips, and solve other cosmetic concerns. An ultraviolet light or laser hardens the material to a strength similar to tooth enamel. Composite bonding isn’t as stain-resistant as veneers, and it doesn’t last as long—typically three to seven years. But the cost is covered by many dental insurance plans when it’s performed to fix structural damage or fill cavities.
• Dental crowns made of ceramic or porcelain are protective coverings used to enhance the strength and appearance of damaged natural teeth. They’re cemented or bonded to ground-down existing teeth.
• Dental implants can replace severely decayed or missing teeth. Small titanium screws, implanted into the jawbone, act as artificial tooth roots. Once they’re healed, the implants are attached to crowns that act as a replacement teeth. 
• A gum lift can reshape an uneven gum line or treat a gummy smile by reducing the amount of visible gum tissue. It’s usually performed with a laser, and while your gums will be swollen and sore for a few days afterward, downtime is minimal. Results are permanent.

After undergoing smile makeover procedures, stick to these habits to ensure long-lasting results:

• Book regular dental cleanings every 6 months
• Regularly brush and floss your teeth
• If you have dental veneers, avoid chewing ice or biting on anything hard enough to potentially crack your new teeth
• Use nonabrasive toothpaste (especially if you have veneers)
• Replace your toothbrush regularly to ensure you’re thoroughly cleaning your teeth every time your brush

The types of foods and drinks you consume can ultimately affect the appearance of your teeth, leading to discoloration or even cracks. In order to avoid ruining your smile transformation, avoid the following:

• Hard foods — like nuts, popcorn kernels, and hard candies — since they can lead to cracked teeth
• Coffee, tea, wine, blueberries and other staining food and drinks since they can affect tooth color
• Sticky foods like gummy candies since they can pull on veneers and prematurely loosen them
• Acidic fruit juices that are high in sugar since they can weaken teeth and lead to tooth decay

Ali, Sana, et al. “Esthetic Management of a Patient with Severely Fluorosed Enamel and Pigmented Gingiva: A Conservative Approach.” Contemporary Clinical Dentistry, 2018.

Koczarski, Michael. “Smile Makeover Utilizing Direct Composite Resin Veneers.” Dentistry Today, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2008.

Korkut, Bora. “Smile Makeover with Direct Composite Veneers: A Two-Year Follow-up Report.” Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 2018.