The process
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Advanced dentistry · Digital design
See it before you commit to it
A smile makeover is a planned combination of treatments, such as alignment, whitening, bonding and veneers, designed together to change how your teeth look. We design the result digitally and let you wear a trial version in your own mouth before you decide. Treatment takes from a few weeks to many months. Consultation from free; Digital Smile Design from £500.
Consultation
From free
Digital Smile Design
From £500
Trial smile
From £500
With
Dr Amit Patel
Who it is for
Who a smile makeover suits
More than one thing to change
Colour, shape, spacing and position often need addressing together. Planning them as a single design avoids treating one tooth at a time and ending up with a result that does not quite match.
Worn, chipped or uneven teeth
Teeth shorten and chip with years of use. Rebuilding their length and shape restores the proportions of a smile. We also look at why they wore down, so the new work is protected.
Crowded or gapped teeth
Where teeth are out of line, moving them first usually gives a more natural result than covering them. Alignment can be the whole answer or the first stage of a wider plan.
Anyone who wants to see it first
Agreeing to cosmetic work on trust alone is a lot to ask. A digital design and a trial smile show you the proposed result before any tooth is altered.
The difference
What changes the result
Digital Smile Design
We take photographs and digital scans, then design your new smile on screen in proportion to your face and lips. You see the proposal and can ask for changes before anything is made. From £500.
A trial smile you can wear
The design is transferred onto your own teeth in a temporary material. You see it in the mirror, in photographs and when you speak. If something is not right, we change the design. From £500.
Align, whiten, bond
Our preferred sequence is the conservative one. Align the teeth, whiten them, then add composite bonding only where shape still needs refining. It keeps more natural tooth than preparing teeth for veneers or crowns.
One plan, one sequence
Veneers, crowns and gum contouring are included only where they are needed, and are planned into the same sequence from the start. Porcelain work is made with our on-site lab to the design you approved.
01
Consultation
We listen to what you would like to change, then examine your teeth and gums. Any decay or gum problems are dealt with first, because cosmetic work only lasts on a healthy foundation.
02
Design
Photographs and scans become a Digital Smile Design. We go through it with you on screen, with the treatments, the sequence, the timescale and the fees set out in writing.
03
Trial
You wear the trial smile and decide. Some people approve it on the day. Others ask for changes or take time to think. Nothing irreversible has happened to your teeth at this point.
04
Treatment
We carry out the plan in order: alignment if needed, then whitening, then bonding, veneers or crowns. Each stage is checked against the design before the next one begins.
05
Protect
Retainers hold aligned teeth in position, and a night guard may be advised if you grind. Regular hygiene visits and reviews help the result last and let us deal with small repairs early.
Afterwards
Aftercare
What you need to do depends on what was done. Aligned teeth need retainers worn as advised, for as long as you want them to stay straight. Bonding benefits from an occasional polish. Whitening needs topping up from time to time. Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth and keep to your hygiene visits and check-ups.
Guide fees
Smile design consultationfrom free
Digital Smile Designfrom £500
Trial smilefrom £500
Composite bonded veneerfrom £495
Porcelain veneerfrom £1,250
Guide fees. You receive a written plan with exact costs before treatment starts. See all fees
Common questions
Questions, answered
How much does a smile makeover cost?+
It depends on which treatments your plan includes. The consultation is from free, Digital Smile Design is from £500 and a trial smile is from £500. As a guide, composite bonded veneers are from £495, porcelain veneers from £1,250 and Invisalign® treatment from £4,500. You receive a written, itemised plan before you commit.
How long does a smile makeover take?+
Whitening and bonding alone can be completed in a few weeks. Porcelain veneers typically take two to three visits. If teeth need aligning first, allow many months, because teeth can only be moved so fast. Your plan includes a realistic timescale.
Does a smile makeover hurt?+
Most stages are comfortable. Whitening can cause temporary sensitivity, aligners feel tight for a few days after each change, and any tooth preparation is done under local anaesthetic. We tell you what to expect before each stage.
What is a trial smile?+
It is a temporary preview of your new smile, made from the digital design and placed over your own teeth. You see the shape and length in your own mouth and can ask for changes. It is then removed, and no decision is needed on the day.
Will I need veneers?+
Not necessarily. Many people get the change they want from aligning, whitening and a little bonding, with little or no tooth preparation. Veneers or crowns are recommended only where teeth are heavily worn, discoloured or already restored, and we explain why.
Can I change my mind after seeing the design?+
Yes. The design and the trial smile exist so you can decide with the result in front of you. You are under no obligation to go ahead, and the plan can be revised or scaled back.
How long will the results last?+
It varies with the treatment. Porcelain usually lasts longer than composite, and all dental work needs maintenance and replacement in time. Wearing your retainers, good home care and regular reviews make the biggest difference.
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