Our philosophy for smile designs is: “Begin with the end in mind.” To put this into practice, our highly-experienced cosmetic dentist, Dr. George Tsangaroulis, uses several state-of-the-art diagnostic and smile planning methods to construct physical and digital models of how your future smile can look, prior to moving forward with treatment. This allows you to work together with Dr. Tsangaroulis to fine-tune your unique smile design while providing peace of mind that the end result can meet—or possibly even exceed—your expectations. Ultimately, our goal is not only to help you improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, but to achieve a beautiful smile that simultaneously enhances the balance and symmetry of your entire face. To learn more about smile design and smile makeover treatments, we invite you to read the informational sections provided below. What Is Smile Design? Smile Makeover Benefits Smile Makeover Candidates Smile Design Process Smile Design Before & After Photos Smile Design & Makeover Longevity Smile Design & Makeover Natural Results Smile Design Cost Smile Makeover FAQs What Is Smile Design? The cutting-edge digital smile design (DSD) software allows you to be the co-designer of your perfect smile. During the process, Dr. Tsangaroulis produces a smile simulation by using either a video, headshot, or selfie of your face. By analyzing your facial and dental proportions, you and Dr. Tsangaroulis can better understand the relationship between your teeth, gums, lips, and smile. This is why DSD technology is an invaluable smile makeover planning tool that gives you a realistic preview of your smile and what your facial features can look like in motion. For your smile design, you can simulate the following cosmetic and reconstructive dental treatments that may be included in your smile makeover: Porcelain Veneers Laser Gum Contouring Invisalign® Teeth Whitening Cosmetic Bonding Dental Implants CEREC® Same-Day Crowns What Concerns Can a Smile Makeover Address? The beauty of smile design is that it can be completely customized and tailored to your needs and goals, addressing a multitude of concerns in the process. Some of the most common dental conditions that can be improved with smile makeover treatments include: Chips and other types of tooth damage Stains and discoloration Gaps and other forms of misalignment Missing teeth Irregularly-shaped teeth Excessive gum tissue causing a “gummy smile” During your initial consultation, our dentist will evaluate your needs and discuss the ideal treatment options to include in your customized smile makeover. Who Is a Candidate for a Smile Makeover? A smile makeover is typically suitable for individuals who want to enhance the aesthetic appearance of their smile. Oftentimes, people with stained or yellowed teeth who desire a brighter smile seek a smile makeover for professional teeth whitening. Those with crooked or overcrowded teeth, or gaps in their smile, might consider orthodontic options to straighten their teeth. Restorative procedures such as bonding and veneers can help repair the appearance of damaged teeth, while individuals with one or more missing teeth may choose dental implants, bridges, or dentures as a solution to restore functionality and aesthetics. Additionally, patients with gums that are too low or too high can benefit from gum contouring to improve the symmetry of their smile. Worn tooth length and shape can also be corrected for a more youthful smile appearance. Smile Design Process What to Expect at Your First Visit Your initial visit provides the opportunity for you to get to know Dr. Tsangaroulis and our team, explain what specifically concerns you about the appearance of your teeth and/or gums, and gain a comprehensive understanding of how your smile can be transformed based on your unique needs and goals. As a cosmetic dentist devoted to the concept of “complete dentistry,” Dr. Tsangaroulis leaves no stone unturned, examining everything from bite alignment and jaw joint function to facial/temporal musculature and, of course, smile aesthetics. Every smile design begins with a thorough clinical examination, detailed photographs, and custom 3D models, followed by a digital smile analysis and mock-up. These are used to help create a “diagnostic wax-up”—or, in other words, a physical prototype—of the end result. In addition to serving as a tool for you to visualize your potential outcome, this wax-up enables you to participate in the design of your new smile, functions as a blueprint for final restorations to make treatment far more predictable, and allows for responsible, minimally-invasive care by limiting the amount of unnecessary tooth preparation/reduction. To further improve treatment planning and customization, Dr. Tsangaroulis also sends impressions and details of your proposed plan to the PreNew® PreView lab in New York City. There, a realistic mock-up will be handcrafted and sent back to our Greenwich dental office for you to try on, allowing you to literally see the way in which your proposed plan can transform your smile. Throughout the entirety of this initial appointment, we encourage you to ask questions, voice any concerns, and be as interactive as you wish in your smile design. While Dr. Tsangaroulis will provide his professional recommendations for what he feels will achieve the best cosmetic and functional results, the ultimate decision is up to you—down to the size, shape, and color of your teeth. Once you feel completely comfortable with your treatment plan, our office will move forward with contacting the appropriate dental labs to construct your wax-up and PreNew® PreView mold. Your Follow-Up Smile Design Visit At your second smile design visit, you will be able to closely examine the physical wax-up of your new smile, as well as actually try on a “preview” of your new teeth using the PreNew® PreView mold. To do this, Dr. Tsangaroulis will fill the mold with a temporary acrylic compound and apply it to your teeth in a matter of minutes. Wearing your mock-up, you will have a better sense of how your smile will look in the future without any drilling, anesthesia, or discomfort. When you are pleased with the final look and ready to proceed, Dr. Tsangaroulis will use the custom wax-up as a blueprint for treatment. Depending on the procedure(s) included in your plan, your smile enhancement may be completed in a single visit or over the course of multiple appointments. In the end, you can expect a beautiful, functional, long-lasting smile you are proud to put on display. Smile Design Before & After Photos Before Move Slider After Before Move Slider After Before Move Slider After How Long Do Results from a Smile Makeover Last? The longevity of the results from a smile makeover varies among individuals based on the particular treatments performed and other factors. For instance: if dental implants, laser gum recontouring, and/or Invisalign® are part of your smile makeover treatment plan, the results can last a lifetime as long as you take proper care of your dental health. If restorations like porcelain veneers and dental crowns are included in the smile makeover, results from those options can last decades for many patients. By contrast, while a procedure such as teeth whitening can produce long-lasting results, future “maintenance” treatments will be required to keep the effects going for extended periods. Once your smile makeover treatment plan is in place, our team can talk with you in more detail about the length of outcomes you can expect. Will My Results from a Smile Makeover Look Fake or Overdone? With smile makeover procedures, our goal is to produce natural-looking results that successfully transform the look of your smile. The chances of achieving this goal are significant due to Dr. Tsangaroulis’ extensive skills and experience with these procedures, as well as our use of advanced technology and state-of-the-art techniques to both plan and perform smile makeovers. Materials utilized in our procedures, particularly restorative treatments such as porcelain veneers and crowns, are of very high quality and are custom-crafted to ensure the best fit and appearance while seamlessly blending in with surrounding teeth. Ultimately, the entire treatment plan is designed to enhance the appearance of your smile with outcomes that look both natural and beautiful. How Much Does a Smile Design and Makeover Cost? The overall cost of a smile design and makeover is quite different for each patient since the procedure is fully customized based upon an individual’s unique needs and goals. Factors that will influence the total price include the extent of treatment necessary to address the concerns, the number and type of treatments included, materials utilized, and other components. A total cost estimate can be provided during the consultation once your personalized treatment plan is developed. Our practice accepts a wide variety of convenient payment options, including third-party financing available for qualified applicants through reputable healthcare financing companies. We will be happy to go over these options with you and answer your questions. Additional Smile Makeover FAQs Am I too old for a smile makeover? There is no age limit for a smile makeover. Common concerns, such as discoloration, misalignment, and more, can arise at any age. A smile makeover treatment plan will take a patient’s specific needs and goals into consideration, tailoring the chosen procedures to effectively improve their smile. Is a smile makeover painful? When performed by a qualified and experienced dentist like Dr. Tsangaroulis, a smile makeover is typically considered a safe option. Along with his professional team, Dr. Tsangaroulis is committed to creating a warm and comfortable environment for his patients, while simultaneously producing quality and long-lasting smile makeover results. Can I get a smile makeover with pre-existing dental concerns? While patients can pursue a smile makeover with pre-existing dental concerns, some issues may need to be addressed beforehand. Concerns and conditions such as gum disease, decay, or dental infections should be treated first to ensure a healthy foundation for cosmetic procedures. An initial consultation is essential to assess your specific dental health and determine the appropriate treatments that can be integrated into your smile makeover plan. This approach ensures the best aesthetic and functional outcomes. If you would like additional information on smile design and smile makeover procedures, or if you are ready to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.