Smile makeover planning
How a smile makeover is planned, stage by stage.
A smile makeover is not a single treatment. It is a sequence — usually some combination of alignment, whitening, bonding, veneers and gum work — planned in the right order so each stage supports the next and nothing is done twice.
Smile makeover with Dr Sundeep Solanki, GDC 212282 — 2 London Road, Twickenham, London TW1 3RY.
Who it suits
When smile makeover is the right answer
If something simpler or less expensive would serve you better, that is what we will recommend at the consultation — and we will show you the fees for both.
- Several things you would change, not just one
- Crowding as well as colour or shape
- Old dentistry that no longer matches
- Worn edges from grinding
- A milestone you would like to look your best for
- Wanting one plan rather than piecemeal treatment
How treatment works
Step by step, no surprises
Listen
What you want changed, what you want left alone, and the timeline you have in mind. Photographs and a full examination alongside it.
Sequence
Alignment first where teeth need moving, then whitening, then shape. Getting the order right is what keeps the total cost down.
Preview
You see the proposed result before irreversible work begins, and we adjust it together until it looks like you.
Deliver and maintain
Treatment in stages with reviews between, then a maintenance plan so the result holds.
From the journal
Read before you decide
How to judge a cosmetic dentist, how to choose between veneers and bonding, and a worked case showing what staged treatment looks like in practice.
How to choose a cosmetic dentist
There is no such thing as a registered specialist in cosmetic dentistry in the UK. Here is what to look at instead.
Read the guideVeneers or bonding: how the decision is actually made
Two treatments, one aim, very different commitments. The deciding factor is rarely the look — it is how much tooth has to be given up.
Read the guideCase study: rebuilding worn front teeth in a grinder
A patient in their forties whose upper front teeth had shortened over two decades of night-time grinding.
Read the guideCommon questions
Smile makeover, answered honestly
How long does a smile makeover take?
Anywhere from a few weeks for whitening and bonding, to twelve months or more when alignment is part of the plan. The consultation gives you a realistic timeline for your case.
Do I have to do everything at once?
No. Most patients stage treatment over months or years, and a good plan is written so it can be paused between stages without wasting what has already been done.
Will it look obvious?
It should not. The aim is a smile that suits your face and age — people notice that you look well, not that you have had dentistry.
Before you decide
Risks and alternatives
Like any dental treatment, smile makeover carries risks, and whether it suits you depends on a full examination. Things to weigh up can include sensitivity, the need for maintenance or replacement in future, and whether healthy tooth structure has to be altered.
Alternatives may include a less invasive option, a different treatment, or no treatment at all. Your written plan sets out the risks, alternatives and fees that apply to you before you decide.