What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?

Not happy with your smile? A smile makeover uses cosmetic dentistry treatments to improve the appearance of your smile by addressing common dental problems like crooked, missing and/or stained teeth.

If a gorgeous smile isn't enough incentive, consider the many proven benefits of flashing those pearly whites: Smiling can make you more attractive, lower stress, boost the immune system and even lead to a longer life.¹

What's Included in a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover can include one or more of the following dental treatments to help improve the overall look of your smile:

• Teeth whitening
• Dental bonding
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental crowns
• Dental implants
• Clear aligners
• Teeth contouring
• Gum lift

Learn more about each of these listed procedures below.

Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening can quickly get rid of yellowing and staining on and below your tooth enamel. Treatments involve applying high-volume peroxide to the teeth using customized trays. Laser teeth whitening, such as Zoom, can accelerate whitening for maximum results. Depending on the extent of staining, you may need multiple treatments.²

Along with brightening your smile, professional teeth whitening is:²

• Quick and convenient. Treatments only take 30 to 60 minutes.
• More effective than over-the-counter whitening products. Professional teeth whitening can lighten teeth by as many as eight shades.

Teeth whitening is typically safe but may potentially cause the following:³

• Temporary tooth sensitivity
• Gum irritation

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding involves applying composite resin to the surface of the tooth to repair imperfections. The resin is then cured with a special light and polished for a smooth and natural appearance.⁴

Benefits of dental bonding include:⁴

• Versatility. Bonding can hide gaps, chips and cracks as well as discoloration.
• Quick results. Bonding can often be completed in one visit of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Cost-effective. Bonding is one of the least expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures.

The potential risks of dental bonding include:⁴

• Temporary tooth sensitivity
• Chipping and staining

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, smooth shells that are customized to fit over the front of one or more of your teeth permanently to improve their appearance. The process usually involves shaving some or all of the tooth's enamel to make room for the veneer. A temporary veneer is placed on the tooth until your custom permanent veneer is ready.⁵

Porcelain veneers offer a lot of advantages when it comes to a smile makeover, including:⁵

• Dramatic results. Veneers can enhance the shape, color and texture of teeth, as well as hide gaps and damage, such as chips and cracks.
• Long-lasting life span. Porcelain veneers are permanent and can last several decades with good oral health practices.
• Stain resistance. Porcelain veneers are more stain-resistant than natural teeth.

Veneers are typically safe but potential risks include:⁵

• Temporary tooth sensitivity
• Damage to your natural tooth
• An unnatural appearance

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that fits over a tooth and can be made from porcelain, ceramic, resin or metal. Crowns typically require two appointments to prepare the tooth, which involves making a mold to create your permanent crown and placing a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready. Some dentists offer same-day crowns using a CEREC machine and 3D printer.⁶

Crowns have multiple oral health and cosmetic benefits, including:⁶

• Realistic results. Ceramic, porcelain and resin crowns look like real teeth and can conceal or correct cracked, discolored or misshapen teeth.
• Improved function. Crowns work just like natural teeth and can restore function and protect a weak or damaged tooth.
• Long-lasting life span. They can last up to 15 years with good oral care practices.

Like any dental procedure, dental crowns carry some potential risks, including:⁶

• Pain for the first day or two
• Tooth decay under the crown
• Chipping or cracking

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth made up of a titanium cylinder and screw that's topped with a dental crown. The screw is surgically implanted into the jawbone in place of the root and bonds with the bone. Once in place, a dental implant looks and functions like a real tooth.⁷

The benefits dental implants provide go beyond just restoring your smile. They also offer:⁷

• Durability. They're designed to be permanent.
• Natural look and feel. Dental implants look, feel and function like real teeth.
• Improved dental and jaw health. Replacing missing teeth with implants prevents your jawbone from shrinking due to bone loss and helps stabilize adjacent teeth.

Along with the many advantages of dental implants, there are some potential risks to be aware of, including:⁷

• Damage or injury to your surrounding teeth, tissues or jawbone
• Implant failure
• Infection
• Slow healing
• Numbness and nerve damage

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners or Invisalign® treatment can help straighten your smile without the use of traditional braces. After a consultation with a clear aligner dentist or orthodontist to evaluate your smile and create a customized plan, you will receive clear aligner trays that will help gradually straighten your teeth.⁸

Here are some of the biggest benefits of clear aligners:⁸

• Practically invisible. Aligners are clear and people may not even know that you're wearing them.
• Removable. Aligners can be taken out to eat and drink, brush or on special occasions.
• Comfortable. No brackets or wires make clear aligners more comfortable than traditional braces.

Some potential risks of clear aligners include:⁸

• Pain or pressure in the first days of changing to a new set
• Teeth may feel loose during treatment

Teeth Contouring

Teeth contouring involves removing tooth enamel to change the shape, size or finish of one or more teeth. It's done using a dental sanding tool or laser.¹⁰

The following are some of the benefits of teeth contouring:¹⁰

• Improved texture. Teeth contouring can correct imperfections such as ridges, rough areas or small chips.
• A more even smile. Teeth can be shaved to create a more even and balanced appearance overall.
• Noninvasive. It is typically painless with no downtime required.

Potential risks of teeth contouring include:¹⁰

• Temporary sensitivity to heat and cold
• Tooth decay or breakage if too much enamel is removed

Gum Lift

A gum lift is a procedure that permanently removes visible gum tissue to reshape the gum line. The procedure is usually performed with a laser (laser gum contouring), but in some cases, the gum tissue may be removed with a scalpel (gingivectomy).⁹

Some of the advantages of a gum lift include:⁹

• A more even smile. A gum lift can correct a “gummy" smile, even out your gum line and make teeth appear more proportionate to the rest of your face.
• Enhancement of other dental procedures. It can be used to enhance other smile makeover components like veneers and crowns.
• Permanent results. A gum lift is permanent.

The potential risks of a gum lift include:⁹

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Infection

Smile Makeover Costs

The average cost of a smile makeover is $23,044, but the price can run as high as $59,999.¹¹ The final cost depends on the following factors:¹¹

• Which procedures are included in your smile makeover
• Number of treatments
• Location
• The dentist's credentials and qualifications
• Facility fees
• Anesthesia fees
• Medications before and after surgery

Below are the individual costs of the procedures and treatments that can be included in a smile makeover:

A smile makeover can consist of one or several treatments and procedures to give you a smile you're proud of. Book a consultation with a skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist who can create a bespoke plan that gives you the smile you deserve.

Financing a Smile Makeover With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you're getting a smile makeover or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.^* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.