Am I a Good Candidate for Smile Makeover?
A smile makeover is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a complete transformation of your smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures. The procedures are customized to meet your unique needs and goals and can range from simple teeth whitening to complex full mouth reconstruction. Read on to learn if smile makeover is for you.
There has been a paradigm shift in the world of dentistry where patients are less fearful of undergoing treatment and are more open to taking an active role in their dental care.
Before, patients used to visit their dentist for only two reasons – to get their teeth cleaned or to address a dental problem. But today, more and more patients are becoming more receptive to the idea of getting cosmetic dentistry procedures done that will result in a beautiful, aesthetic smile.
There are several aspects to a smile makeover, and at Dayo Dental, we want you to be fully informed about the process so you can make the best decision for your smile. Here’s what you need to know about smile makeovers:
What is a Smile Makeover?
Have you ever spent hours staring in front of a mirror, wondering why your smile seems out of harmony with your facial features? Are you unhappy with your smile?
Worry not, you have a lot of options to improve your smile, talk to your dentist, and maybe a smile makeover is all you need.
A smile makeover is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a complete transformation of your smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures in Mexico. The procedures are customized to meet your unique needs and goals and can range from simple teeth whitening to complex full mouth restorations.
The "Hollywood Smile"
If you scroll through your Instagram feed, turn on the television, or watch a film at the cinema, chances are you’ll find yourself looking at the faces of celebrities or social media personalities confidently, showing their perfect smiles.
Have you ever wished or imagined what you would look like if you had that “Hollywood smile” — you know, the super white, perfectly aligned teeth that match the symmetry of your face?
The truth is, most of these celebrities weren’t born with flawless smiles either, but they visit high-end dental offices and get cosmetic dental procedures for their teeth.
Who Is a Candidate For a Smile Makeover?
Before, you would have had to be born with great genes or simply gotten lucky to have a gorgeous smile.
But now, thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, almost anyone can benefit from a smile makeover. To give you a more in-depth look from a cosmetic dentist’s perspective, we’ve put together a list of the most common reasons patients seek out a smile makeover:
1. You want to whiten your teeth
When it comes to creating a winning smile, teeth whitening is often at the top of the list. After all, nothing makes a smile look more polished than a bright, white set of teeth.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Make sure to schedule your regular check-up every six months. Your teeth and gums must be in optimal condition before the dentist schedules you for laser teeth whitening.
Teeth can become discolored for a variety of reasons:
Foods
Foods like coffee, tea, and red wine are all notorious for causing teeth to become stained.
Smoking
Smoking is another common cause of teeth discoloration. Over time, the nicotine in cigarettes can darken the teeth, making them yellow or brown.
Aging
As we age, our teeth naturally become less white. This is because the outer layer of tooth enamel begins to thin, revealing the darker layer of dentin beneath.
You’ve heard of over-the-counter whitening kits, but they can be expensive and time-consuming and don’t always produce the desired results. If you’re looking for a more effective way to achieve brighter teeth, professional teeth whitening is your best bet.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: The porcelain material of previous dental restorations won’t change shades along with your natural teeth. Do you have a previous dental restoration? It would be wise to match the shade of your natural teeth with your existing crowns or veneers. But if you want a whiter shade, you’ll need to replace your crowns to match your natural teeth after the treatment.
2. You want to close gaps
Gaps, or spaces, between the teeth are a common cosmetic concern. They can be caused by various factors, such as overcrowding, an enlarged labial frenulum (the small fold of tissue under the tongue that attaches to the gum), or even thumb-sucking.
One popular cosmetic dentistry procedure in Mexico that can close gaps is dental bonding. Dental bonding is a quick and easy way to improve the look of your smile by filling in spaces between the teeth. The best part about dental bonding is that it can be done in just one office visit.
Another popular option for closing gaps is porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells bonded to the teeth’s front. They can be used to improve the color, shape, and size of your teeth and close unsightly gaps.
3. You have chipped or cracked teeth
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry since chipped teeth can typically be fixed on the day of treatment.
In most cases, patients get cracked molars because this is where most chewing is performed. Treatment for cracks depends on the severity – ranging from a small filling, root canal treatment, crowns, and tooth extraction.
Cracks, in addition, can be either superficial or deep. Superficial cracks, also known as craze lines, are tiny cracks that only affect the tooth’s enamel. They are usually not a cause for concern and are easily fixed with bonding or veneers.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Early treatment is important with a cracked tooth. If treatment is delayed, the crack will worsen and may result in tooth loss.
Deep cracks, however, extend below the enamel and into the dentin of the tooth. These cracks are more serious and can lead to tooth decay and infection if left untreated.
On the other hand, a chipped tooth is very common, and people often chip their front teeth due to accidents or trauma upon biting down hard food.
4. You want to improve your bite
Overbites, underbites, and crossbites – you’ve most certainly heard of them during one of your dentist appointments. But what do they actually mean?
These are all types of malocclusions or bad bites. They can either be skeletal or dental in nature, and the type of treatment you need will depend on the cause of your malocclusion.
An overbite is when the upper teeth protrude too far over the lower teeth, and can give you an undefined jaw appearance and retruded chin. An underbite is just the opposite – the lower teeth protrude too far out in front of the upper teeth and can cause the chin to appear prominent, and give you a sunken cheeks appearance.
The way to address a malocclusion will also depend on its severity.
And Invisalign is one way to improve a number of different bite issues.
A combination of porcelain crowns and veneers can also be used to improve the appearance of your teeth and jaw and give you a more symmetrical-looking smile.
Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) is another treatment option that can be used to improve certain bite issues. An RPE is a device that is placed at the back of the mouth and gradually widened over time to expand the upper jaw. This can be done in both children and adults.
Your cosmetic dentist in Mexico will know which specific procedure applies to your case.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Consider getting an Invisalign? You can have it and save as much as 50% (for as low as $4,900 per month) if you travel to Mexico. Dayo Dental is one of the leading dental tourism companies that can connect you with an Invisalign-certified dentist in Mexico.
5. You want to replace missing teeth
Not only do missing teeth cause aesthetic concerns, but they can also lead to functional problems. For example, your eating and speaking abilities can be affected, and your teeth can shift out of place.
In addition, missing teeth can also lead to bone loss in the jaw, especially when the tooth has been missing for an extended period. This is because the roots of the teeth stimulate the bone in our mouth.
Without this stimulation, our bone begins to lose density.
To replace missing teeth, you have a few different options, including
- Dental implants
- Bridges
- Partial dentures
Denture implants and fixed bridges are two common implant treatments that can be used to replace an entire arch of teeth. This procedure involves placing titanium posts into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots.
Once the posts have bonded with the bone, you will need 3-6 months of healing before the permanent prosthesis can be placed.
The ultimate advantage of all on 4 dental implants is that they are permanent and can never be removed.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Crossing the border is the best way to save on hefty costs for procedures like all on 4 dental implants, implant crowns, veneers, and more. You can save yourself 50% - 70% off the cost and still get the same quality of care and materials.
Bridges are another option to replace one or more missing teeth. This prosthetic is supported by the surrounding teeth and can be made from porcelain or zirconia ceramic teeth.
Partial dentures are similar to bridges, but instead of being supported by the surrounding teeth, they are removable and consist of a clasp, a metal framework, and false teeth attached to a gum-colored base.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Don’t get stuck in your neighborhood. A trip to the border might be the best option for you in order to have great deals without sacrificing quality. Call one of Dayo Dental’s professional advisors to get a good idea of your treatment plan.
6. You have misshapen teeth
Now this one is a more easy fix. Veneers can help to align and shape your teeth, giving you a much more polished look. Dental bonding allows your dentist to painlessly and seamlessly fix any chipped, cracked, or gapped teeth you may have.
This treatment is fast, less invasive, and much more affordable than veneers. This is especially ideal for patients with only one or two teeth that need to be fixed or for patients looking for a more budget-friendly option.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Are you thinking of having a full smile makeover? Rather than working and saving for a long time to raise funds, why not travel to Mexico? A typical veneer in the US can cost around $1,950 to $2,150 per tooth. You can get the same veneer quality and dental care in a reputable dental clinic in Mexico for only $550. Quite huge savings, right?
Below is the estimated prices of veneers in Mexico and the US:
Procedure | Mexico Cost | US Price | Savings |
Zirconia Veneer (per tooth) | $550 | $2,150 | $1,600 |
Emax Veneer (per tooth) | $580 | $1,950 | $1,370 |
Porcelain Crown (per tooth) | $480 | $1,800 | $1,320 |
Zirconia Crowns (per tooth) | $560 | $2,050 | $1,490 |
7. You want to improve the symmetry of your smile
Correcting facial asymmetry is a common reason why patients seek cosmetic treatments like Botox or fillers. However, your teeth can also affect facial symmetry and how balanced your features appear.
This is because your teeth play a role in how your lips move when you talk or smile. Uneven teeth can make your smile look lopsided.
One option is to undergo orthodontic treatment such as braces and Invisalign to straighten your teeth. This can help to improve the symmetry of your smile and your face as a whole, thus giving you a much more polished look.
But some facial asymmetries are caused by skeletal concerns, which cannot be fixed with dental treatments alone. In these cases, you may need to seek surgical treatments such as jaw or chin augmentation.
8. You’re not happy with your dentures
Have you ever seen someone with dentures that look too big for their mouth? Or someone with fake-looking teeth that don’t match the rest of their smile?
Poorly fitting dentures can cause all sorts of problems, from sore spots to difficulty eating and speaking. Add to that the fact that they can alter the shape of your face and make you look older than you actually are.
“I can’t eat with my dentures” or “I don’t want to wear removable dentures” are common complaints we hear from patients.
Many patients have come to us due to unsatisfactory experiences with other dental offices giving them dentures that did not fit well, were loose, or were too expensive.
One of the signature dental procedures is full mouth reconstruction. This is a combination of restorative dental procedures to fix various dental concerns.
All on 4 dental implants are a popular solution for patients who want to avoid dentures and get their permanent teeth in a day.
If you want a more stable and reliable type of dentures, snap on dentures called implant-supported dentures or overdentures are available.
Unlike traditional dentures, snap on dentures are not held by the gums but are instead attached to dental implants placed in the jawbone. This makes them much more stable and secure, allowing you to remove them only when you want to.
Read this article to learn more about the difference between snap on dentures and traditional dentures.
Below is the pricing table for full upper or lower dental implant procedures:
Procedure | Mexico Cost | US Cost |
Overdentures with 4 Implants | $7,700 | $20,000 |
Fixed Hybrid Bridge with 6 Implants (Acrylic) | $11,800 | $26,500 |
Fixed Zirconia Bridge with 6 Implants | $14,700 | $29,000 |
All on 4 with Hybrid Bridge (Acrylic) | $11,800 | $26,500 |
All on 6 with Hybrid Bridge | $11,800 | $26,500 |
All on 4 with Zirconia Bridge | $14,700 | $29,000 |
All on 6 with Zirconia Bridge | $14,700 | $29,000 |
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: You may have noticed that even traditional dentures cost a lot locally ($2,400). Don’t look for the cheapest dentist in your area. Always remember, you get what you paid for. Consider traveling to Mexico, where you can have high-end work at a significantly lesser cost. If you are tired of your ill-fitting dentures and want to step up, you need to consider having an implant. With Dayo Dental, you can save 50-70% of implant costs with our top 5% Mexico Dentists.
9. You have periodontal disease
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is an infection of the gum tissue. It is a silent disease, and it starts off as relatively mild. However, if left untreated, it can lead to gum recession, tooth loss, and an increased risk of systemic health conditions such as heart attack and diabetes.
Are you suffering from bad breath, bleeding gums, or loose teeth? You need to have those checked and treated before considering other cosmetic procedures. Here’s why:
- If you have gum recession, your sensitive, exposed roots could be irritated during teeth whitening
- The success of your bridges, implants or restorations depend on your overall gum health
- Treatment of your gum disease will have an inherent benefit for your smile – It can reduce the redness and swelling so that you can have a pinky healthy gums.
Treatment of periodontal disease ranges from non-surgical procedures such as scaling and root planing to periodontal surgery, depending on the severity of the disease.
SMILE MAKEOVER TIP: Periodontal disease is easily treated if detected early. The best way to avoid having your cosmetic treatment deferred due to full-blown periodontitis is to visit your dentist regularly for cleaning and checkups.
10. You simply want to improve your smile
In a world where first impressions matter, a stunning smile can make all the difference. You deserve to love your smile. You deserve to feel confident when you laugh, when you talk, and when you kiss. You deserve to look in the mirror and see a smile that makes you feel happy, proud, and beautiful.
Glamorize Your Smile With a Smile Makeover in Mexico
The general assumption is that the higher the procedure cost, the better and more realistic the results would be. That may be true if you are limiting your search within your local area. However, going to Mexico for a smile makeover changes the cost dynamic. The cost difference is huge.
The only difference is that you travel once or twice to Mexico to complete your smile transformation. And the big difference in cost more than makes up for any travel expenses.
A beautiful smile can open doors and change lives. And we want to help you get there by connecting you with the best cosmetic dentists in Mexico.
At Dayo Dental, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of a beautiful smile using the latest in dental technology. We’re here to help you love your smile by connecting you with the best cosmetic and implant dentists in Mexico.
Schedule a consultation with us today to see if you are a good candidate for a smile makeover.
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