What a smile makeover can change
| What bothers you | Treatments we may combine |
|---|---|
| Yellow or stained teeth | Whitening, then veneers or bonding for stains that don’t lift |
| Chips, worn edges, uneven lengths | Composite bonding or veneers |
| Crooked teeth or gaps | Clear aligners or braces, sometimes followed by bonding or veneers |
| A gummy or uneven gum line | Gum contouring with our periodontist |
| Old dark crowns or fillings | New crowns or tooth-coloured fillings matched to your new shade |
| Missing teeth | Implants or bridges |
| Worn-down teeth and a collapsed bite | Full mouth rehabilitation with Dr. Adish |
How we plan your smile
- Smile consultation. We talk through what you’d like to change, examine your teeth, gums and bite, and take photographs and X-rays.
- Smile design. Our cosmetic dentist works out the ideal tooth shape, length and shade for your face. Where several specialists are involved, they agree the plan together.
- Trial smile. Where it helps, a mock-up in tooth-coloured material shows the new shape in your mouth, so you can approve it or ask for changes.
- Your written plan. Every step, in order, with the timeline and the fee.
The order matters
Treatments are done in a set order so each one builds on the last:
- Health first: cleaning, fillings and any gum treatment.
- Moving teeth: aligners or braces, if they’re part of the plan.
- Gum line: contouring once the teeth are in position.
- Colour: whitening, so new veneers and crowns can be matched to the brighter shade.
- Shape: bonding, veneers, crowns and any implant teeth.
Keeping your new smile
Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, keep your check-ups and cleans, and wear a retainer if your teeth were straightened. A night guard protects veneers and crowns if you grind your teeth. Small touch-ups to whitening and polishing of composite keep everything looking fresh.
Risks
Each treatment in the plan has its own risks, from temporary sensitivity after whitening to chipping of veneers. Teeth prepared for veneers or crowns will always need them. Your cosmetic dentist explains the risks of each step and the less invasive alternatives, so you can choose with all the facts.
What affects the fee
The number of teeth involved, which treatments the plan includes, porcelain or composite, whether straightening or implants are part of it, and the number of visits. You get a written estimate with the plan, broken down by step.
Questions patients ask us
What is a smile makeover?
A planned combination of cosmetic and restorative treatments to change how your smile looks, and often how it works. It starts with what you'd like to change and ends with a single plan covering every step, the order and the timeline.
What is the difference between smile design and a smile makeover?
Smile design is the planning stage, working out the shape, length, colour and proportions of the teeth to suit your face. The smile makeover is the treatment that delivers that design.
How long does a smile makeover take?
Whitening and bonding can be done in one or two visits, and porcelain veneers in about two weeks. If teeth need straightening first, or implants need to heal, the whole plan can take six to eighteen months.
Can I see my new smile before treatment?
Yes. After the smile design, a trial smile (mock-up) made from tooth-coloured material can be placed over your teeth, so you can see the shape and length and ask for changes before anything permanent is done.
When should I start a smile makeover before my wedding?
Ideally six to twelve months ahead. That leaves time for straightening if it's needed, and for veneers to be finished and settled weeks before the day. Whitening and bonding can be done closer to the date, but not in the final few days.
Is a smile makeover painful?
Most steps are comfortable. Preparing teeth for veneers or crowns is done under local anaesthetic, and whitening can cause brief sensitivity. Your plan explains what each step involves.
Will my smile look natural?
That's the aim of the design stage. We plan tooth shape and shade around your face, lips and skin tone, rather than making every tooth the same bright white.
Sources
ADA MouthHealthy: veneers ↗NHS: dental treatments ↗Last updated 14 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.