Your Smile Reveal: The Final Steps of a Smile Makeover

After all the planning, you've probably pictured the moment you finally see your new smile more times than you can count. It's natural to feel excited and a little nervous as the finish line comes into view, wondering what happens at the last appointments and how you'll know everything is right. In this post we walk through the final steps of a smile makeover at our New Haven dental office, from refining the details to your smile styling visit, and how to care for your new smile so it stays bright and healthy.

What happens at the end of a smile makeover?

At the end of your smile makeover, we look at your finished smile together, refine any detail that needs it, and then mark the moment with a smile styling visit, photos and a little celebration. The goal of those last steps is simple: you leave loving how your smile looks and feels.

Every smile makeover is different, so the exact order of your final appointments depends on the treatments in your plan. We'll walk you through what to expect as you get close, so each visit feels familiar before it begins.

Refining the details together

Before anything is considered finished, you and our team look at your new smile side by side. There's a mirror in every room, so you can see your smile from every angle while we talk it through. You've had a say at every stage of your makeover, and this stage is no different.

We look at color, shape and proportion against your face, how your lips frame your teeth, and how your smile moves when you talk and laugh. We also check that your teeth work comfortably together when you bite, because a smile you love should feel as good as it looks. If a detail needs refining, we refine it. Our aim is teeth that look like teeth, so natural that your smile simply looks like you.

That care comes from experience. Dr. Lerch was one of the first women to be Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and every finished smile reflects the collaboration between you, our team and our dental lab.

Your smile styling visit and celebration

Once your smile design is complete, we celebrate it with you at your smile styling visit. It's a chance to see your finished smile with fresh eyes, take photos of the result, and share the moment with the team who helped you get there.

Those photos give you a way to look back at how far you've come,. In our waiting room, a painting carries a message that fits this day perfectly: "Smile! You Deserve It."

If you're still at the start of your own smile makeover, our smile gallery shows finished smiles from our New Haven, CT dental office, so you can see the kind of natural results we design with our patients.

Caring for your new smile

A few everyday habits keep your new smile looking bright and healthy for years:

• Keep up your regular checkups and cleanings, on the schedule we recommend for you.
• Brush and floss daily, caring for your cosmetic work the way you care for your natural teeth.
• If your plan included bonding, go easy on coffee, tea and red wine, which can stain bonded areas over time.
• Talk with us before whitening, since whitening changes natural enamel and leaves dental work the same shade.
• Protect your smile at night with a custom night guard if you grind your teeth.

Porcelain resists stains well, so veneers tend to stay bright with good daily care. The ADA has helpful notes on caring for porcelain veneers and on how teeth whitening works with natural teeth and existing dental work.

Starting your own smile makeover

If you've been imagining your own reveal day, it starts with a conversation. At your consultation we listen to what you'd love to change, map out what's possible together, and help you picture where your plan could take you. Our New Haven, CT dental team would be glad to walk you through every step.

Frequently asked questions

What is a smile styling visit?

It's the visit that marks the end of your smile makeover. Once your smile design is complete, we take photos of your finished smile and share a little celebration with the team who helped you get there. It's a chance to see your new smile with fresh eyes and enjoy the moment you've been planning toward.

What if my new smile doesn't feel quite right?

Tell us. You have a say at every stage, including the end, and we consider your makeover finished once you love how your smile looks and feels. We check color, shape and how your teeth work together when you bite, and we refine any detail that needs it before we celebrate.

How do I keep my new smile looking bright?

Keep up your regular checkups and cleanings, brush and floss daily, and care for your cosmetic work like your natural teeth. Porcelain resists stains well, while bonding can pick up stains from coffee, tea and red wine. We'll show you exactly how to protect your results so your smile stays bright.

Can I whiten my teeth after a smile makeover?

Talk with us first. Whitening only affects natural tooth enamel, so crowns, veneers and bonding stay the same shade while your natural teeth change. We plan whitening carefully so everything keeps matching, and we'll help you choose the right approach if your natural teeth need a little brightening later.

Your reveal day is waiting

We'd love to help you reach the day you see your new smile for the first time. Call us at (203) 624-5256 or schedule your consultation. Our New Haven dental office is at 375 Orange St, two blocks from the New Haven Green, with free patient parking behind the building.

Published by Center for Esthetic Dentistry.