If you’ve ever looked at yourself in the mirror and felt self-conscious about your smile, you may want to consider smile design, also known as a smile makeover. This is a process that involves the use of one or more cosmetic dental procedures to improve the overall appearance and functionality of your smile. Smile design does not address significant damage due to issues such as tooth decay or trauma. The team at Peak Dental Group can help you get the picture-perfect smile you’ve always wanted with smile design.
A smile makeover is a customized treatment plan offering several long-lasting benefits, including:
One of the very first things people notice when they meet you is your smile. If you don’t love your smile, it can dictate your interactions with others. Your confidence suffers and you may try to hide your teeth when you smile. After undergoing smile design, our patients feel much more confident and can enjoy socializing more.
When your teeth are discolored or worn down, it makes you look older- which ultimately makes you feel older. Smile design can improve the aesthetics and functionality of your smile, making you look and feel younger.
While it’s true that smile design addresses aesthetic and functionality concerns, it can still impact your oral and overall health. Addressing these concerns early can help you avoid issues in the future. For example, if you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant and crown can prevent future bone loss. Also, when you love your smile, you’re more likely to take care of it by practicing good oral hygiene.
Also, when your teeth are misaligned, you may have sensitivity or difficulty biting/chewing healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and veggies. This makes you more likely to reach for processed foods, which can cause both oral and overall health issues. Tooth sensitivity and bite problems may also cause migraines and, addressing these issues treats these problems.
Smile design is a comprehensive treatment plan that combines several cosmetic procedures into one, maximizing your time and budget. The dental team will determine the procedures you need during the consultation and will schedule them in a way that makes the most sense.
Smile design uses various cosmetic dental procedures to cover multiple issues at once, improving the appearance, functionality, and health of your smile. Some of the most common issues addressed by smile design include:
Smile design is a customized treatment plan designed by the dental team based on the patient’s aesthetic and oral health goals. Some of the procedures involved in smile design include:
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces and is often recommended for patients with mild to moderate misalignments. The process involves the use of a series of clear aligners designed to gently move teeth into their appropriate position within the jaw. They are made of clear, smooth plastic and resemble a retainer.
If your teeth are discolored, it impacts your smile and your confidence. Teeth whitening is one of the most basic procedures involved in smile design. While it is possible to find kits at your local drugstore, it’s important to note that these are not as effective as professional teeth whitening services. At Peak Dental Group, we offer in-house and take-home options. However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, and it will have to be repeated in the future.
Two of the most common procedures involved in smile design are dental crowns and veneers. Both of these come in a variety of materials, but at Peak Dental Group, we usually recommend porcelain because it looks the most natural. The health of the underlying teeth determine which is most appropriate for you.
Crown: for patients who have teeth that are weak, fractured, or sensitive, we recommend a dental crown. This is a special cap that fits over the affected tooth to protect it and usually takes at least 2 appointments to complete. The crown will be customized to match the size, shape, and color of the neighboring teeth.
Veneers: for patients who need a simple, cosmetic solution, we often recommend dental veneers. This procedure offers no structural benefits, it simply covers teeth that are misaligned or discolored. Many of our patients who choose veneers opt to get all 8 of their visible front teeth covered.
Dental implants are one of the more expensive procedures involved in smile design, but insurance may help cover some of the cost. Our office staff will work with your insurance provider to determine your coverage. This procedure is recommended for patients who are missing teeth or have teeth that are significantly decayed and must be extracted. This is an extensive procedure, typically involving 3 or more appointments, and make take several months to a year.
First, if necessary, the affected tooth will be extracted. If you do not require extractions, the first step is the placement of the dental implant post. Once the jawbone has healed around the post, the abutment will be placed. Finally, the crown (prosthetic tooth) will be placed on the abutment. In some cases, patients require additional procedures, such as a bone graft or sinus lift. This will be discussed during your consultation.
While the primary purpose of smile design is to improve the aesthetics and functionality of your smile, it can also alleviate pain/discomfort due to misalignments and bite issues.
The dental team at Peak Dental Group consists of Dr. Sammy Gill, Dr. Gurshant Grewal, and Dr. Lana Huynh. These dental professionals strive to make dental visits pleasant and look forward to helping their patients improve their smiles, whether from a purely aesthetic standpoint or to solve significant dental issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Smile design involves several steps:
First, we assess the current condition of your teeth and discuss your goals. Then, we’ll explain the various procedures we recommend, and the potential outcomes associated with each one. From there, we build your treatment plan based on our recommendations and your desires. Finally, we move forward with treatment.
The first step in any dental treatment is the initial consultation. At this time, we’ll assess the current condition of your teeth and determine the most appropriate procedures. If there are any health concerns, we will need to address these prior to beginning any cosmetic treatments. We will also discuss your goals/expectations at this time. We will take x-rays and impressions and then create a preview of what you can expect from your treatment. This typically involves specialized dental imaging software, mockups, study models, and even before/after photos of prior patients.
Once your treatment plan has been created, we will schedule your procedures accordingly. It is important to note that every patient is different, so there is no standard treatment plan or cost. The timing for each procedure will be determined based on your treatment plan.
Once your smile design plan is completed and you have the “picture-perfect” smile you dreamed of, you must maintain it. This means that you will need to make some changes to your habits and commit to regular dental visits- usually every 6 months- for cleanings and exams.
If you are currently using an abrasive toothpaste or toothbrush, you will need to switch to something milder. You will also need to make sure that you are flossing to prevent plaque build-up. You may also want to switch to an alcohol-free mouthwash, as the alcohol can damage dental restorations.
Your dental restorations are not the same material as your natural teeth. This means that you will also want to change your food/drink habits, especially if you consume a lot of sugary snacks, alcoholic beverages, or foods/beverages that stain such as coffee, tea, and wine.
Smile design can significantly impact the aesthetics and functionality of your smile.
If you’re not happy with your smile, you might want to consider undergoing a smile design with the team at Peak Dental Group. We can help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Schedule your consultation today. We are located on Nolanridge Court, NW and our hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We look forward to meeting with you and building your customized plan.
At Peak Dental Group, we are committed to making sure that our patients understand our procedures. We hear a lot of questions about various procedures. Some of the most common questions we get about smile design include:
