How Much Does a Smile Makeover Cost?
Why the price varies
If it's worth the money
Financing options
A smile makeover costs $11,175 on average, but the price can range as high as $59,999, according to 47 reviews on RealSelf.
While it’s certainly not cheap, this customized combination of procedures can fix everything from stains and chips to crooked teeth, gaps, or a gummy smile.
Here, we break down the choices that will impact the total cost of your smile makeover—and whether real patients say their results were worth the investment.
Does insurance cover it?
Some aspects of a smile makeover—like crowns, tooth repair with dental bonding, gum grafting, and even Invisalign—may be partially covered by your dental insurance plan, especially if you’re paying extra for orthodontic coverage.
However, your provider will likely recommend other elective procedures like teeth whitening, purely for cosmetic reasons. Most dental insurance plans won't cover cosmetic dental procedures, but it’s worth checking with your insurance provider on the details of your coverage.
What affects the price you'll pay for a smile makeover?
There are a number of factors that can cause the cost of a smile makeover to fluctuate, which can include:
1. The complexity of your smile makeover treatment plan
There are many ways that dental work can create a more beautiful smile, from improving discoloration and fixing chipped teeth to improving gum issues and crooked teeth.
Your dental makeover will start with a consultation, where you discuss your primary concerns, goals, and budget. Your provider will also perform an oral exam to assess whether your teeth have structural issues that will need repair.
Then they’ll recommend a personalized treatment plan. Some patients just need teeth straightening and whitening, while others opt for porcelain veneers or even full mouth reconstruction.
According to patient reviews on RealSelf, these are the average costs for the procedures that may be included in your treatment plan.
- Professional teeth whitening: $300
- Invisalign: $4,975
- Veneers: $6,700
- Dental bonding: $775
- A dental bridge: $4,325
- Dental implants: $7,350
- Dental crowns: $3,950
- A gum lift: $2,050
- Gum grafting: $2,775
- Full mouth reconstruction: $18,325
2. Your provider’s credentials and level of expertise
If you're looking for a functional and aesthetically beautiful smile, a general dentist may not be what you need; they tend to focus on teeth cleanings, fillings, and dental issues related to oral health.
For an expert in smile design and creation, seek out a cosmetic dentist or even a prosthodontist, who has specialized training in dental veneers, porcelain crowns, and teeth whitening.
They may also refer you to a periodontist (who specializes in dental issues related to the gum tissue, such as an uneven gum line or gum disease), an orthodontist (who has expertise in fixing crooked teeth and misaligned jaws), or an oral surgeon.
How many years of experience your provider has—and whether or not they’re board certified—will have a big impact on their fees. As you’d expect, more highly trained, experienced providers can charge more for their time.
3. Their practice location
Patients in large metro areas with a high cost of living tend to pay more for all cosmetic and restorative procedures. That’s because the providers in places like New York City and LA have to pay higher rents and other overhead costs, which get passed on to patients.
However, you may still be able to find competitive pricing within those zip codes simply due to the sheer volume of qualified providers, who may be competing for patients.
Especially for a big investment like a dental makeover, it can really be worth your time to consult with more than one experienced provider, so you can compare their treatment plan recommendations and personalized price quotes before you book.
4. The type of anesthesia you need (if any)
Most gum and dental procedures can be managed with a combination of local anesthesia and oral sedation, which can be administered by your primary provider. This option doesn't have a significant impact on your overall price.
If you're getting many missing teeth replaced with dental implants, you may need to be put under general anesthesia or local with IV sedation. Adding the services of an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist into your procedure could add over $1,000 to your bill.
5. Special offers or discounts
You may see some aspects of a smile makeover procedure (such as Zoom teeth whitening, Invisalign, or gummy smile Botox) offered at a discount, which could reduce the price of your overall treatment. If your timing is flexible, follow a few potential providers on social media, sign up for their marketing emails, and keep an eye out for opportunities to save.
Before you spring for a deal through a coupon site, keep in mind that each of these procedures has the potential to go wrong in inexperienced hands. So do your research first, to make sure you can trust the training of the person providing the treatment.
Is a smile makeover worth the money?
Smile makeover treatments have earned a 93% Worth It Rating from patients who wrote reviews on RealSelf, so a solid majority do think their results were worth the investment.
Many of those who were happy with their dental makeover results say their new smile transformed their confidence and improved their quality of life.
Those who were dissatisfied cited issues like asymmetry, infections, or even being left in pain, particularly from poorly performed dental veneer procedures.
Some disappointed patients specifically mention being treated by technicians, so it’s worth confirming during your consultation which aspects of the procedures will be performed by your chosen provider, what will be done by a member of their staff, and how experienced those staff members may be.
Can you finance a smile makeover?
Yes, monthly payment plans or financing options like CareCredit can help break the cost of your smile makeover into more manageable pieces.
Just keep in mind that financing also makes your procedure more expensive in the long run, and those interest payments can really add up. If you go this route, do what you can to avoid high interest rates and stay on top of your payments.