Are you feeling self-conscious about imperfections in your grin, such as stubborn stains or chipped teeth? Your dentist offers various cosmetic services to address aesthetic flaws and boost your confidence.
However, if you have suffered more severe decay, disease, or damage, you might wonder whether it’s even possible to improve your appearance. Thankfully, many providers also offer complete smile makeovers to address these issues, but you might have questions about what’s involved in the process before proceeding. For instance, many patients wonder how long their makeover will take. If you’re considering this treatment, continue reading to learn more!
What Procedures Are Included in Smile Makeovers?
Some people only require a single service, such as teeth whitening or placing veneers, to treat their concerns and meet their smile goals. Unfortunately, those who have lost or broken teeth or more severe jaw or periodontal problems might require more complex and involved procedures to improve the status of their grin.
For example, cracked or broken teeth can often be restored by cementing a lifelike dental crown made of resilient ceramic to enhance their appearance and functionality. Meanwhile, those who have lost one or more teeth might also benefit from replacements, such as dental implants, to restructure their arches.
Your makeover can include as many cosmetic and restorative procedures as needed to help you achieve the desired outcome. Your dentist can provide a detailed treatment plan after your initial examination and discussion for approval before moving forward.
How Long Do Smile Makeovers Take?
Your smile makeover process is as unique as your circumstances and can vary significantly based on several factors, such as:
- The treatments you undergo. Some services, like teeth whitening, might require only a single in-office visit. Others, like getting a dental implant, requires multiple visits over time and a months-long recovery process.
- The severity of your condition. If you have pre-existing problems, like cavities or gum disease, those will need to be treated successfully before undergoing elective procedures.
- Your habits and routines. You’re more likely to develop potential complications if you neglect oral hygiene habits or don’t follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions following your treatment, which can lengthen your overall timeline.
How Can I Preserve My Treatment Results?
Once your procedures are complete and you have the perfectly beautiful grin you’ve always dreamed of, you can help maintain the results in the following ways:
- Clean your mouth consistently. You should brush and floss twice daily and visit your dentist for routine checkups and cleanings every six months to prevent additional damage, decay, or discoloration.
- Eat carefully. Avoiding overly hard, sugary, crunchy, acidic, and spicy foods can help preserve recently placed restorations and avoid triggering tenderness in your teeth and gum tissues.
- Follow post-operative instructions. If your dentist shares additional aftercare orders, following them as closely as possible is the best way to recover quickly while avoiding potential complications.
Your dentist can provide a more detailed estimate of how long they anticipate your smile makeover to take from start to finish once they have examined your current condition and know more about the results you hope to achieve!
About the Practice
Patients at Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry benefit from a team of caregivers eager to help families in Waco build and maintain beautiful, healthy teeth and gums. They are each highly accomplished individually and they collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services, including complete smile makeovers, conveniently under one roof. If you want to improve the appearance of your smile, you can request an appointment on the website or call (254) 203-9662.