Smile Makeover

When your dentist proposes a ‘smile makeover’, what he has in mind is making changes to the appearance of your smile so that it is more attractive for you and other people to look at. A smile makeover is not something which improves the health of the teeth, nor does it address any dental disease. In fact some of the treatments used by some dentists to ‘improve’ patients’ smiles actually weaken the teeth involved and make their future less secure.

The ‘smile makeover’ procedure

Your dentist may suggest a mix of the different cosmetic dental treatments available in order to make changes to your smile, and so to get an idea of what may be involved before you agree to treatment, we suggest that you should read up about the individual procedures. Suggestions could include crowns, porcelain veneers, invisible braces, cosmetic bonding and tooth whitening.

Risks involved with a ‘smile makeover’

Like with any dental treatment, certain risks are involved and should be explained before any procedure commences.

One thing that you should bear in mind is that unfortunately, your dentist’s view of what amounts to an improved smile may not match your view. Can you be certain that you will end up looking better from your perspective, or will it just be your dentist at the end of the day who thinks things have been improved?

Additionally, you are not guaranteed to like the end result of your dentist’s work once your smile has been altered, so it’s important to understand the consequences regarding any refunds or whether treatment can be offered in order to return your teeth their original state. It’s also possible that your dentist will show you images of people’s mouth and indicate that this is what you will achieve; however, it’s not guaranteed that that the same look can be achieved given the technical constraints of the dental treatments available and the specific characteristics of your mouth and appearance.

A limited and reversible smile makeover is something which many family dentists will be happy to discuss with you. However, the choice of which dentist you use to provide an extensive smile makeover should be considered very carefully. We recommend that this treatment is not carried out unless it has been considered and recommended by a specialist restorative dentist, one who is recognised as such by the General Dental Council (GDC).

How long do ‘smile makeovers’ last?

Is there a guarantee in place that states whether your smile makeover will last?

Individual circumstances in relation to your mouth will impact on how long your results will last for, but this kind of cosmetic dentistry is unlikely to be a one-off treatment. By opting for procedures such as crowns and porcelain veneers, it’s likely you will be entering into a cycle of dental treatment for the rest of your life, which could therefore prove to be extremely costly in the long run.

Is a ‘smile makeover’ suitable for me?

A smile makeover which is carried out on a limited and reversible level can be an excellent option if you are looking for ways to improve the appearance of your smile. However, if you are planning on getting permanent treatment, which will be costly, we would recommend that you spend a considerable amount of time deciding whether it’s the right option for you.

What can I claim for if something goes wrong with my ‘smile makeover’?

In some cases smile makeovers do not go to plan. There can be a number of reasons for that. You may have been caused injury during the procedure, or even find that you have been caused additional problems after the treatment was completed. Other issues include:

• Braces incorrectly fitted or the lack of advice and aftercare given by your dentist
• Incorrectly fitted crowns, veneers or bridgework, leading to tooth decay, infection or further underlying issues
• Poor appearance or function of crowns, veneers or bridgework
• Badly fitted crowns veneers or bridges, infection following the treatment or restorations which chip or damage after placement.

Contact the Dental Law Partnership

With more and more people looking to transform the way they look with cosmetic dental treatment, the numbers of people affected by dental negligence in this area are increasing. If you have suffered as a result of your dentist’s treatment, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

If you need to speak to a legal specialist about cosmetic treatment or if you feel you have become a victim of malpractice, call the Dental Law Partnership on freephone 0800 0853 823.

You can also view some examples of our client stories here.

Start Your Claim Today

Request a Callback