Smile makeover: a coordinated plan, designed around your face

A smile makeover is a coordinated plan of cosmetic dental treatments, sequenced so that each one supports the next. It is not a single procedure. It might combine teeth straightening, whitening, composite bonding, veneers and gum reshaping, or it might need only two of those. At Dental & Wellness London, every smile makeover is planned and carried out by Dr Vishal Patel, a cosmetic dentist with a Masters in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry and around 20 years in practice.

The value of planning a smile makeover, rather than booking treatments one at a time, is coordination. Bonding matched to whitened teeth looks better than either treatment alone. Straightening crowded teeth before cosmetic work usually means less drilling and a result that lasts longer. Our aim is a smile that fits your face, your bite and your age, and still looks like your own teeth years from now.

What a smile makeover involves

A smile makeover starts with what you would like to change and what your teeth and gums actually need. We look at tooth colour, shape, size and position, how the edges line up with your lower lip, how much gum shows when you smile, and how your bite works. From there we build a plan from a short list of tools:

• Invisalign clear aligners to correct tooth position, so less tooth needs to be altered later.
• Professional teeth whitening to set a lighter natural shade before any restorations are matched to it.
• Composite bonding to repair chips, close small gaps and refine edges, usually with no drilling.
• Composite veneers or porcelain veneers where shape or colour needs a fuller change.
• Gum contouring where an uneven or high gum line affects the smile. Our article on gum contouring and gum lifts explains when it helps.

Some patients also need crowns, onlays or replacement of older fillings so that the whole smile reads as one. We include these only where the health of the tooth calls for them.

Who a smile makeover suits, and who it does not

A smile makeover suits adults who have several small concerns at once, such as mild crowding, worn or chipped edges, uneven colour and older dental work that no longer matches. It also suits people who have put off cosmetic treatment because they were unsure where to start, and want one clinician to plan the whole sequence.

It is not the right starting point if there is active decay or gum disease; those come first, and we will tell you if that is the case. It is also not suitable for anyone hoping to look like someone else. If you want very white, very uniform teeth that do not suit your face, we will explain why we would advise against it. Where the jaw itself is significantly out of position, we refer to a specialist orthodontist before any cosmetic planning. Patients with crooked teeth or a gummy smile can usually be helped within a smile makeover, but the order of treatment matters.

Smile makeover options compared

Targeted refinement

Whitening followed by bonding on a few teeth. This is the fastest, most conservative route, often completed within a few weeks. It suits patients whose teeth are reasonably straight and healthy but who dislike their colour or a handful of chips and edges.

Composite-led makeover

Whitening, any gum reshaping needed, then composite veneers on the teeth that show when you smile. Composite can be added to and repaired, and it usually needs little or no tooth preparation. It is a sensible middle ground, with the trade-off that composite stains and wears faster than porcelain.

Orthodontics-first makeover

Where teeth are crowded, rotated or spaced, we usually straighten them first with Invisalign, then whiten, then finish with bonding or veneers. This takes longer, typically several months, but it often reduces the amount of tooth that has to be altered. Our article on anti-ageing smile protocols with Invisalign explains how position affects the look of a smile over time.

Porcelain-led makeover

Porcelain veneers or crowns on the teeth that show, usually after whitening and sometimes after orthodontics. Porcelain holds its colour and polish well and lasts longest, but it requires some preparation of the tooth and is not reversible. The comparison in composite bonding versus porcelain veneers sets out the differences in more detail.

The smile makeover process, step by step

1. Smile makeover consultation. We discuss what you would like to change, examine your teeth, gums and bite, and take photographs and a digital scan.
2. Smile design. We plan proportions, tooth length and colour around your face. Where useful, we show you a digital preview or a trial smile in composite before anything permanent is done.
3. Written plan. You receive an itemised plan with each stage, its timing and its cost, so you can decide without pressure.
4. Foundation. Any decay, gum problems or failing fillings are treated first.
5. Position. If needed, teeth are straightened with aligners.
6. Colour. Teeth are whitened, then left to settle for around two weeks.
7. Shape. Bonding, veneers or gum reshaping are carried out to match the settled shade.
8. Review and retention. We check the bite, polish, take final photographs and fit retainers where teeth have been moved.

Results, longevity and aftercare

A well-planned smile makeover should look calm and natural: teeth that suit your face, sit evenly with your lips and work comfortably when you bite. Results vary between people, and depend on the starting point and the materials chosen.

Longevity depends on each element. Whitening usually needs a top-up every year or two. Composite bonding and veneers often last around five to seven years before they need polishing, repair or replacement. Porcelain veneers commonly last ten to fifteen years or more with good care. Teeth that have been straightened need retainers worn as advised, indefinitely, or they will drift.

• Keep regular hygiene appointments to protect the gums around restorations.
• Wear a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth.
• Avoid biting hard objects such as pens, nails and ice.
• Attend reviews so small issues can be polished or repaired early.

Risks, and how we reduce them

The main risks of a smile makeover come from doing too much, or doing things in the wrong order. Over-preparing healthy teeth for veneers, matching restorations before whitening has settled, or disguising crooked teeth with material can all lead to results that age poorly. We reduce these risks by straightening before shaping where it is appropriate, preferring additive treatments such as bonding where they will do the job, trialling the design in composite before porcelain, and checking the bite at every stage.

Specific treatments carry their own risks: temporary sensitivity after whitening, chipping or staining of composite, and the irreversible nature of porcelain preparation. We explain each one in your written plan.

Smile makeover cost in London

Because every plan is different, a smile makeover does not have a single price. Your plan is built from our published fees for each treatment, and the full cost is quoted in writing after assessment. For reference:

• Teeth whitening: £450 for a single method, £780 for the combined plan.
• Composite bonding: £175 for a simple tooth, £350 for a complex tooth.
• Composite veneers: £350 to £500 per tooth.
• Porcelain veneers: £750 to £1,050 per tooth; Emax veneers £1,050 to £1,500 per tooth.
• Invisalign: Express £2,200, Moderate £3,400, Unlimited £4,500 to £4,900.
• Gum contouring: from £195, carried out with a surgical technique for accuracy.

A smile makeover consultation is £65. If your plan begins with Invisalign, the orthodontic consultation itself is free and includes an iTero scan and ClinCheck preview. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status, is available.

Why choose Dr Vishal Patel for your smile makeover

Dr Vishal Patel qualified from Liverpool (BDS) and holds an MSc in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry from Manchester. He is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, registered with the GDC (103127), and an Invisalign Diamond II provider, placing him in the top 1% of UK Invisalign providers. Over around 20 years he has treated over 15,000 cases.

That combination matters for a smile makeover, because the same clinician can plan tooth movement, colour and shape together, rather than handing you between practices. You can see examples of his work in our before and after gallery. For an overview of every treatment we offer, see our cosmetic dentistry page; if you are local, our cosmetic dentist in Islington page covers visiting us on Essex Road.

Smile makeover questions we are often asked

How much does a smile makeover cost in the UK?

It depends entirely on what is included. A makeover of whitening and bonding on a few teeth costs far less than one involving orthodontics and porcelain veneers. We price each element from our published fees, for example whitening at £450 or £780 and bonding from £175 per tooth, and give you a full written quote after assessment.

How long does a smile makeover take?

A refinement using whitening and bonding can often be completed within a few weeks. Composite veneers usually take a few weeks more. If teeth need straightening first, the overall plan typically runs over several months, because aligners need time to move teeth gently. We set out the timing of each stage in your written plan.

What happens at a smile makeover consultation?

We talk through what you would like to change, then examine your teeth, gums and bite, take photographs and a digital scan, and discuss the options that suit you. Where helpful we show a digital preview. You leave with a clear idea of the sequence, the timings and the cost, and time to decide.

Can I have a smile makeover without veneers?

Often, yes. Many smile makeovers use only orthodontics, whitening and composite bonding, which keeps natural tooth structure intact and leaves future options open. We consider veneers when colour, shape or wear cannot be addressed well in other ways, and we always discuss the more conservative routes first.

Is a smile makeover painful?

Most stages are comfortable. Whitening can cause short-lived sensitivity, aligners feel tight for a day or two with each new set, and bonding usually needs no anaesthetic. Where teeth are prepared for porcelain, we use local anaesthetic, and any tenderness afterwards normally settles within a few days.

Getting here

Dental & Wellness London is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, by appointment. We are a private practice with no walk-ins, so please call 020 8127 4567 before you visit. The clinic is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible.

• By train: Essex Road station is two minutes' walk away, on the Great Northern line between Moorgate, Old Street and Highbury & Islington. Highbury & Islington is one stop north.
• By bus: routes 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 all stop on Essex Road, close to the clinic.
• On foot: from Angel, allow 15 to 20 minutes' walk; Canonbury Square is around 10 minutes.
• By bike: many patients cycle or use Lime and Forest e-bikes. From Dalston it is about 10 minutes by bike.

Many smile makeover patients travel from neighbouring areas; our Highbury page has local directions.