Ensure your Makeover is a Success by Sheri L Lefty DDS, as printed in the June 2006 Medina County Women's Journal.

  With so many of us putting off aging, makeovers are an essential tool to defy the appearance of getting older.  Makeovers are an effective way of helping you look as young as you feel.  The most important factor in the success of your makeover is that you are treated as a team member in the process, and your goal is achievable and agreed upon by you, your physician, dentist, and stylists. 

Your smile may be the finishing touch or starting point in the makeover process, and it is the foundation of your facial symmetry and beauty.  It is important that your dentist analyzes your face and smile as a whole, as well as the supporting structures like your gums, bone level, eyes, lips and chin.   

  Many times, your dentist can visualize the beautiful smile you will have, but it may be difficult for you to spend your time and money without being certain of a beautiful result.  A wonderful solution is for you to visualize the new smile in your mouth at your first cosmetic consultation appointment.  This technique is called a “trial smile” and allows you to see what your smile makeover will look like in your mouth.  Composite material (bonding) is custom formed on your teeth, your photograph is taken, and you see within minutes what your smile can look like.  The trial smile is then removed and you can take the photo with you.  A trial smile is fabulous for those unsure of what their final result will look like and how it will change their face.  Because you can take the photo home with you, family members and friends can give you feedback on your new smile. From the trial smile, you can decide with your dentist if bonding, veneers, whitening, Invisalign or other treatments are right for you. 

  The least invasive way to makeover your smile is professional whitening (commonly know as bleaching).  Whitening can erase most stains from teeth, make your smile brighter, and give a more consistent color to your smile.  With today’s advances, you can get a brighter smile in one visit at the dental office, or take home custom fitted trays to whiten at home.

   If you are concerned with crooked or chipped teeth, you may consider porcelain veneers or crowns to reshape and protect damaged teeth.  Veneers and crowns involve removing enamel and shaping teeth to allow enough room for a laboratory to create your restorations.  Depending on the extensiveness of your case, you will have two to three visits at the office.   

 While many smiles can be improved with less expensive procedures like whitening, smile makeovers involving bonding, veneers and crowns may be more costly.  This raises the concern of financing your treatment, as dental insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures.  Today there are many ways to finance your smile makeover.  Most offices offer same-as-cash financing with no interest for 3 months, low-interest financing for up to 60 months, or the option to pay with credit card so you can earn points for enhancing your smile. 

What are important factors when considering your smile makeover? 

• You should seek treatment from a dentist experienced, educated, and trained in cosmetic dentistry.  While cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty, your dentist their laboratory technician should have advanced training in cosmetic dentistry to create the most natural and esthetic result. 
• You should be given the option to see what your final smile will resemble before treatment, whether it is a “trial smile” or a computer altered photo showing what final results can be obtained.