A smile makeover should give you your unique smile, only better, and never a copy of someone else's teeth or a one-size-fits-all look. At Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, cosmetic dentistry starts with the smile you already have. Dr. Steven Haywood plans each change to suit your face, your teeth and your goals.
Many people hear "smile makeover" and picture a row of bright, identical teeth. A good makeover looks nothing like that. It keeps what makes your smile yours and improves the parts that bother you. Here is what a smile makeover is, how it is planned, and the treatments it can include.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover uses one or more cosmetic dental treatments to make positive changes to your smile. It can be as small as whitening and reshaping one chipped tooth, or as large as a full plan that changes color, shape, spacing and gum line together.
The word "makeover" can sound dramatic, but the best results are often the ones nobody can quite put a finger on. Friends notice that you look rested, happy or confident. They may not realize your teeth are the reason.
Who is a good candidate?
You may be a good fit for a smile makeover if any of these sound familiar:
- You hide your smile in photos or cover your mouth when you laugh.
- Your teeth are stained, dark or yellow, and store whitening has not helped.
- You have chipped, worn, short or uneven teeth.
- You have gaps between your teeth, or teeth that overlap.
- You are missing one or more teeth.
- Too much gum shows when you smile.
Healthy teeth and gums come first. If you have decay or gum disease, that is treated before cosmetic work begins, so your new smile has a strong foundation.
A beautiful smile is the sum of its parts
A smile is more than teeth. It is teeth, gums, lips, jaw and the muscles of the face working together. That is why every makeover at Southern York Smile Care starts with a smile analysis, done with your input. The goal is to bring the teeth, the bone structure and the muscles into harmony.
During the analysis, Dr. Haywood looks at things like:
- Tooth color, and whether it suits your skin tone and the whites of your eyes
- Tooth shape and size, and how they fit your face and lips
- The smile line, meaning how your top teeth follow the curve of your lower lip
- The gum line, and how much gum shows when you smile
- Spacing and alignment, including gaps, crowding and rotated teeth
- Your bite, because a smile has to work well, not just look good
It is a detailed process. Understanding how all of these parts relate to each other takes training and experience. Dr. Haywood completed cosmetic training through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum, has more than 35 years in practice and was seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover.
Seeing your smile before you start
You should not have to guess what your new smile will look like. Cosmetic imaging shows a preview of possible changes, and the iTero Element 3D scanner makes a digital model of your teeth with no messy putty. You can ask for changes before any work begins.
Treatments a makeover can include
Every plan is different, but most makeovers draw on the same set of tools. Any one of them can go a long way toward changing your smile. Two or more together can give you the smile you have always wanted.
Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening is often the first step. It brightens natural teeth and is usually done before any veneers or crowns are made, so new work can be matched to your brighter shade.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of teeth. They can change color, shape and length, close small gaps and make slightly crooked teeth look straight. Prepless veneers need little or no drilling, so more of your natural enamel stays in place.
Cosmetic bonding
Cosmetic bonding uses tooth-colored material to repair chips, fill small gaps or reshape a tooth, often in one visit.
Gum contouring
If your teeth look short or too much gum shows, a cosmetic gum lift can reshape the gum line and uncover more of each tooth.
Dental implants
A missing tooth leaves a gap that is hard to ignore. Dental implants replace the root and the tooth, giving you a natural-looking result. Dr. Haywood is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Clear aligners
Crooked teeth can be straightened with Invisalign clear aligners. Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider. The office does not offer metal braces.
Same-day or a fuller plan?
Southern York Smile Care offers two ways to approach a makeover.
- A same-day smile is for people with a set date, like a wedding or a new job, or for goals that can be met in one visit. A brighter smile or a repaired tooth can often be done in a single day.
- A complete smile makeover is for people who want to change several things at once, such as color, shape, gaps, missing teeth and the gum line. It is planned in stages and may take more visits.
At your consultation, you and Dr. Haywood can talk about which path fits your goals, your schedule and your budget.
Keeping your new smile looking its best
Cosmetic work lasts longest with good care. Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth daily and keep up with your cleanings. If you grind your teeth, a night guard can protect veneers and crowns. Coffee, tea and red wine can stain natural teeth over time, so rinsing with water after drinking them helps.
Porcelain veneers and crowns do not stain the way natural teeth do, but the edges and the natural teeth around them can. That is one more reason to keep your regular 60-minute cleanings. At each visit, the team checks your cosmetic work, polishes it gently and looks for any small chips or wear, so your smile keeps looking the way it did on the day it was finished.
The office is out of network with every insurer. You pay at the visit and the office files any claim for you. Payment plans are available through CareCredit and Cherry; see the financing page for details.
Find out what your smile could be
Your smile is already unique. The right makeover simply makes it better. To see real results, browse the smile gallery. Then call (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment for a cosmetic consultation at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA. Patients come from Shrewsbury, York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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