Smile Makeover
Charleston, West Virginia
 What do you like about your teeth? Are there any details you wish you could change without extensive or costly dental treatments? If this sounds like you, then you’re in luck. Here at Revive Dental and Implant Center, we have the perfect solution to grant you the beautiful teeth of your dreams. A smile makeover is any procedure in which the appearance of one’s teeth is improved, and our team works hard to make sure every patient is satisfied with the results.
Smile Makeover Procedures
Several treatments can fall into the category of a smile makeover, including but not limited to:
How The Process Works
Before you actually undergo treatment, we must first determine what exact changes you’re looking for in a one-on-one review. Cosmetic dentistry is about customizing things to your specifications, after all. Dr. Chad Boustany will ask you a series of questions before your teeth are examined.
Some aspects to be taken into consideration during this questioning for your makeover include:
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As previously said, what do you like or dislike about your teeth?
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Tooth color - Silver or amalgam fillings can be replaced with composite restorations boasting a color identical to real teeth. Stains, shades, and other imperfections can also be improved through whitening.
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Alignment and spacing - Crooked, overlapping, or improperly spaced teeth with excessive gaps between them can be straightened and re-aligned if required via orthodontics or veneers among other options.
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Missing teeth - One or multiple lost teeth can not only affect your looks and self esteem in social situations but also impact your health. A poor bite may be at greater risk of tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease, meaning that replacing a lost tooth as soon as possible is as important to oral health as it is to appearances. Replacements can be applied with dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures.
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Balance - Uneven, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth may be cosmetically bonded for a better look. Oversized gums can also be re-contoured to improve your smile’s overall balance.
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Lips and cheeks - Any signs of unshapely proportions or aging may be corrected or rejuvenated with specific treatments such as orthodontics and/or dental maxillofacial surgery. |
In addition, we will evaluate several attributes of your teeth and smile themselves during our examination:
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Tooth length - Your teeth & gumline can be reshaped to appear shorter while the two front teeth may be lengthened with composite bonding or porcelain veneers, lending to a more youthful appearance. If needed, we may recommend a periodontist for crown lengthening.
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Smile line - This imaginary line follows the edges of your upper teeth from side to side. Ideally, it should match the curve of your lower lip when you smile. We will use this common point of reference when determining how long your new teeth should be.
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Tooth proportions - A pleasing smile or grin is generally recognized as one in which the two front teeth have a dominant width-to-length ratio of 4-to-5. This guides your other teeth’s length and width in their aesthetic zone, keeping the smile line balanced.
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Tooth texture and characterization - When characterizing your crowns or veneers to model a more masculine or feminine appearance, we also seek to match the look and feel of teeth you reference from photographs. |
There are several methods available for you to preview what your smile makeover will look like:
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Dental imaging software - After relaying your procedure’s specifications to a dental lab technician or other member of your treatment plan, a digital image can provide an idea of what your smile will look like upon completion. Granted, it’s not guaranteed to match the final results.
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Before and after photos - Photos of other patients who have had makeovers offer examples of the quality results you can expect, giving you an idea of how the final smile compares to the original one.
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Dental study models - Dr. Chad Boustany will take an impression of your teeth before filling it with plaster to create an exact model. Any excess plaster can be trimmed away while areas lacking in it can be enlarged, allowing us to show you how every area of your smile will be changed. These same types of models are also used as guides when designing crowns or veneers for patients. At labs using digital technologies, scans of your teeth may be used instead of traditional physical impressions.
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Dental composite bonding makeup - This may serve as a demonstration or mockup for your smile makeover. If desired, we temporarily bond composite resin material onto your teeth so you can have a visualization of what to expect before the actual treatment starts. For veneers, dental composite bonding lets you identify how comfortable you are with their appearance as well as the feeling and fit. Adjustments can be made to suit your comfort until the function and look are to your satisfaction. This makeup is temporary and has no lasting effect on teeth once it’s removed. |
How To Maintain Your Smile Makeover
Knowing how to alter your dental hygiene habits to maintain your new smile as effectively as possible will ensure that it lasts for many years to come. Here are some tips to help you stay on track:
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Brush with non-abrasive toothpastes, as abrasive toothpastes and tooth brushing can scratch the surface of your restorations and dull their polish & luster.
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Flossing is generally important for dental hygiene, but removing debris from your teeth is especially helpful for patients with veneers since impeccable gum tissue is a must.
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Avoid mouthwashes containing alcohol, as these are shown to negatively affect composite fillings. Furthermore, the alcohol content in mouth rinses will gradually break down the bond between the restorations (crowns, veneers, etc) and your teeth. Switch to alcohol-free mouth rinses in the future.
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Omit highly sugary foods or drinks and limit between-meal snacks to avoid cavities. Consume coffee, soda, tea, and other soft drinks strictly in moderation. Too much of any of these will stain your teeth.
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Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages for the same reasons as cutting out alcohol-containing mouth rinses. Excessive alcohol consumption, in general, can ruin one’s oral hygiene and dental work.
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Refrain from biting down on and chewing tough objects (pens, pencils, metal, bottle caps, etc).
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If you suffer from habitually grinding your teeth (bruxism) and have been fitted with a night guard to prevent damage to your teeth and restorations, do not forget to wear it as instructed. |
If you or a loved one are considering a smile makeover and wish to set up an appointment, don’t wait. Call us today to discuss your options at (304) 467-4265. |
