Hey guys, this is Dr. Michael Hardcastle at Village Dental Care. I'm here to talk to you today because I get a lot of questions, most recently about smile makeovers, and I want to take this time to answer a few of your questions, or at least a few of the questions I've been receiving. This way, you can determine if a smile makeover is right for you.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is any treatment designed to improve your smile. We literally remake your smile to give a better version of yourself, so you are more confident and happy about the way your teeth look. It actually changes and improves your communication with other people because it gives you more confidence when you're truly happy with your smile.
Are smile makeovers considered cosmetic or restorative dentistry?
Generally speaking, smile makeovers are considered cosmetic, but they can be restorative. Many people need dental work on their front teeth because of cavities and other problems. In those cases, they might need crowns. Any crowns we're doing on somebody's front teeth, we treat like a smile makeover. We want it to look like a very natural, beautiful smile that gives that person the confidence they need.
What are the goals of a smile makeover?
The goal of a smile makeover is to enhance your smile in a way that looks very natural. Some people tell me they've been thinking about veneers, but they think veneers look fake. The reality is that fake veneers look fake. There are many beautiful smiles out there, and you wouldn't know they're actually veneers or cosmetic crowns. The dentist did a very natural job and produced the desired result: a beautiful smile that looks like it was given to you by nature.
Who would be a good candidate for a smile makeover?
People who are good candidates for smile makeovers are generally adults who aren't happy with their smile. It's really that simple. We don't perform these procedures on kids because they're still growing. The gum lines change, and orthodontics and just keeping their teeth healthy is our goal for kids. But once you become an adult and your gum lines aren't changing, and you're not growing anymore, if you're not happy with your smile, you're a good candidate for a smile makeover.
What are the procedures involved in a smile makeover?
The process involved for a smile makeover starts with a consultation with a qualified dentist. A qualified dentist is anyone trained in cosmetic dentistry, specifically the area of smile makeovers, and has some successes under their belt that they can show you. The process begins with a consultation to determine the goals of the patient, ensuring we can realistically produce those results for you with a smile makeover. Then we determine the process if you are a good candidate for a smile makeover. In my office, we start with records, determining your bite, and what would be ideal for you, scanning your teeth so that we can communicate all that to the lab. I have them make the changes digitally. We call it a virtual diagnostic wax-up. We produce all the changes virtually and create a 3D printed model of the desired result so that we have everything we need to produce the result you're looking for. The step after that is scheduling the treatment and getting it done. You'll wear temporary veneers or crowns while the lab makes your permanent ones. This is a really important step. Using our diagnostic wax-up, we actually make your temporary crowns and veneers look like our proposed changes, the changes the lab made virtually for us. That way, it's basically a trial smile. You can see if we nailed it. Does the shape and size of the teeth we planned for you look good in your mouth? Does it give you confidence? Is it the shape we need? Sometimes the patient wants to make a change, and as long as it's in the temporary phase, that's really easy to do. We make the changes, communicate them to the lab, and they translate those changes to the actual finals. The very last step is to put your beautiful new smile in, and you get to take it home. Easy as that.
What are the benefits of a smile makeover?
The benefits of a smile makeover include giving you the confident, healthy smile you've always wanted. It also often strengthens the teeth. If you've got a lot of dental work, stained fillings, and decay, the teeth can become fairly weak and subject to fracture. Many times we can strengthen the teeth in the process of doing a smile makeover. If you've got healthy teeth already and just don't like the shape and size, we can improve the shape and size of the teeth so that it looks better in your mouth and when you smile, giving you the confidence you're really looking for.
Will I need anesthesia during the smile makeover?
In most cases, when we do the treatment for a smile makeover, we use local anesthetic. There are certain situations where we can do very conservative type preparations. We call them minimal or no-prep veneers for people who have smaller teeth, already have spacing, and just need the teeth to be larger to fill the space in their mouth. In those cases, we might not need to use anesthetic, but in 95% of cases, at least in my office, we do use local anesthetic.
How long will it take to heal from a smile makeover?
Actually, there's little to no healing time, per se. It's not a traumatic procedure. Sometimes the gums are irritated, so for a day or two, we may have you do saltwater rinses if that's the case. But in most cases, there's little to no trauma to the gums or any other part of your mouth, and you just try your bite out and see if you like it. The most common post-operative complaint we'll have is if crowns are involved, cosmetic crowns as part of the smile makeover, we might need to fine-tune the bite to get it back to a comfortable level for you. That's not uncommon, but there is no real healing period at all.
Can I resume regular brushing and flossing after a smile makeover?
Absolutely. It's very important to keep the gums healthy while wearing temporaries. We even like for patients to use a water pick during the temporary phase and throughout the rest of their life. The Waterpik is super valuable for overall dental health, but especially while wearing temporary crowns and veneers during the smile makeover.
How can I schedule an appointment to discuss a smile makeover?
If you're interested in discussing how to schedule an appointment or are interested in making an appointment, you can contact our office at (972) 992-5223 or visit us online at villagedentaldallas.com.
Smile Makeover
Invest In Your Best Smile Ever
- Transform your appearance with cosmetic care
- Attain your dream smile by combining treatments
- Save 15% on your makeover with our VIP Club
Enjoy a Stunning New Look With a Dallas Smile Makeover
It’s more important than ever to sport a beautiful smile. Maybe you want to renew your smile just for yourself, so you feel better about your appearance. Plus, a recent survey found 45 percent of people agree that a smile is a person’s most attractive feature, no matter their age. Whatever the situation, a Dallas smile makeover from Dr. Michael Hardcastle and the team at Village Dental Care will do the trick. With our treatment, you can:
- Proudly show off your smile everywhere you go
- Make better first impressions in your social life
- Gain a competitive edge in your professional life
- Look younger and more vibrant
- Make good oral hygiene easier to maintain
If you’re ready to see the smile of your dreams, call us today at (972) 992-5223 for your smile makeover in Dallas. You can save 15 percent on your treatment when you join our VIP Club. Ask us for details when you call!
Improve Your Life With Cosmetic & Restorative Services
When you have a beautiful smile, you just feel better about yourself. You can smile freely around others and feel confident to speak up with your opinions and thoughts. Village Dental Care wants to help you achieve your best smile, and we have many treatments that will do just that. You can combine any number of cosmetic dentistry services for a completely new look. These services include:
- Dental Veneers – Thin shells of luminescent material will quickly hide a number of smile flaws.
- Teeth Whitening – We use the KöR whitening system for fast, dramatic results.
- Tooth Bonding – Dr. Hardcastle can conceal chips, cracks, stains, and more with composite resin material.
- Invisalign Orthodontics – Straighten your smile in a matter of months, not years like braces take, with clear aligners.
We can also use restorative dentistry services for your makeover, including:
- Dental Crowns and Bridges – These restorations can repair damaged teeth and missing teeth.
- Dental Implants – Fill in gaps in your smile with these artificial teeth roots. We even have solutions where you can receive your implants and beautiful replacement teeth on the same day.
We want you to be completely happy with your smile, and we’ll do all we can to make that happen! Call Village Dental Care today at (972) 992-5223 to schedule an appointment.