“Smile makeover” sounds like one treatment. It is really a plan: a set of treatments chosen for your teeth and face, done in a sensible order. For one person it might be whitening and two small composite repairs. For another it might be aligners, then whitening, then veneers on the front teeth. This guide explains what a makeover can include, how it is planned and how to keep expectations realistic.
What a makeover can include
| Treatment | What it changes | Removes tooth? |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth whitening | Overall colour of natural teeth | No |
| Clear aligners or braces | Crowding, gaps, crooked or rotated teeth, some bite problems | No |
| Composite bonding | Small chips, worn edges, small gaps | Little or none |
| Composite veneers | Shape and colour of front teeth | Little or none |
| Porcelain veneers | Shape, colour and length of front teeth | Usually a thin layer of enamel |
| Gum contouring | An uneven or “gummy” gum line | Gum only |
| Crowns and bridges | Badly damaged teeth; replacing missing teeth | Yes, the tooth is shaped |
| Implants | Replacing missing teeth | No (the gap is filled from the root up) |
Two facts shape the order in which things are done: whitening only lightens natural teeth, not crowns, veneers or fillings, and some veneers need a little of the front of the tooth drilled away, which is permanent (NHS).
How a makeover is planned
- 1
A conversation
What bothers you, what you would like to change, and what matters most: colour, shape, straightness, a gap, or how you chew.
- 2
Health check
Teeth, gums, bite and jaw are examined, with X-rays where needed. Decay, gum disease or a failing filling is treated first.
- 3
Smile analysis
Photographs and scans of your teeth and face. The dentist looks at your lip line, tooth shape and proportions, and the gum line.
- 4
The plan and its cost
Each treatment, the order, the number of visits, the time it will take and the cost of each step, before you agree to anything.
- 5
Treatment, step by step
Each stage is discussed before it is done, and you can pause between stages.
- 6
Review
A check of comfort, bite and appearance, and a maintenance plan.
Why the order matters
- Health before looks. Bonding veneers to teeth with active decay, or around inflamed gums, risks failure.
- Straighten before covering. If teeth are crooked, moving them first often means fewer teeth need veneers, and less enamel needs removing. A review comparing aligners and braces found both effective, with braces better for some complex movements (Ke et al., 2019).
- Whiten before matching. Veneers, crowns and fillings do not change colour with whitening, so natural teeth are whitened first and restorations matched afterwards (ADA).
- Gums before final restorations. If the gum line is being reshaped, that is done before veneers or crowns, so their edges sit in the right place.
Start with the least invasive option
Some changes cannot be undone. Preparing a tooth for a porcelain veneer or a crown removes enamel permanently. A good plan uses the gentlest treatment that gets you the result you want: whitening instead of veneers for stained but well-shaped teeth, straightening instead of veneers for crooked teeth, composite bonding for a small chip. Our guide Veneers: porcelain or composite? explains the trade-offs.
When porcelain veneers are the right choice, they have a good track record: a review of clinical studies estimated about 89% were still in place after around nine years (Morimoto et al., 2016).
How long it takes
Whitening can be done in one visit or over a few weeks at home. Veneers take one visit (composite) or two to three (porcelain). Straightening takes the longest: fixed braces typically stay on for one to two years (NHS), and aligner treatment also runs to months. A full makeover that includes straightening is therefore measured in months, so if you are planning around a wedding or a family event in Pune, start the conversation early and ask which parts can be finished in time.
Keeping it realistic
- The aim is a smile that suits your face and looks like your own teeth, not the brightest possible white.
- Ask to see how the result is planned before treatment, and what can and cannot be changed.
- Restorations need care and will need maintenance or replacement over the years. Ask what that will involve.
- Results vary from person to person. Be wary of anyone who promises a perfect result.
Questions to ask before you start
- Which treatments do I actually need, and which are optional?
- In what order, and why?
- Which steps remove tooth structure, and is there a gentler alternative?
- How many visits, over how long?
- What does each step cost, and what will maintenance cost later?
Frequently asked questions
What does a smile makeover include?
+
It depends on what you would like to change. A plan can combine whitening, aligners or braces, composite bonding, veneers, gum contouring, crowns, bridges or implants. Most makeovers use two or three of these, not all of them.
How long does a smile makeover take?
+
From a single visit for whitening, to several months or more if straightening is included. Your plan gives you a timeline before you start.
Will a smile makeover look natural?
+
That is the aim. Planning looks at your face, lip line and tooth proportions, and the shade is chosen to suit you. Ask to see how the result is planned before treatment.
Do I need veneers for a smile makeover?
+
Not always. Many smiles improve with whitening, straightening or small composite repairs alone. Veneers are one option, used when gentler treatments cannot get the result.
How is the cost of a smile makeover worked out?
+
It depends entirely on which treatments are included and how many teeth are involved. Each step is costed separately in your plan, after your smile analysis and before treatment begins.
Sources
- NHS: Dental treatments (bridges, dentures, implants) (accessed 13 October 2026)
- American Dental Association: Whitening (Oral Health Topics) (accessed 15 October 2026)
- Ke, Zhu & Zhu (2019), A comparison of treatment effectiveness between clear aligner and fixed appliance therapies, BMC Oral Health 19:24 (accessed 15 October 2026)
- Morimoto et al. (2016), Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: systematic review and meta-analysis, Int J Prosthodont 29(1):38–49 (accessed 15 October 2026)
- NHS: Braces (accessed 15 October 2026)
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. What suits you depends on an examination at the clinic, and every treatment plan and cost is explained before treatment begins.
More on cosmetic dentistry · all articles