Smile Makeover or Veneers? Why Your Bite Matters in Beverly Hills

If you've been thinking about veneers, you're probably picturing a brighter, more even row of front teeth. A smile makeover at Beverly Hills Dental often starts in a different place: with how your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite. Here's how a smile makeover compares with veneers alone, why your bite shapes the final look, and how Dr. Nader Afshari plans a smile makeover for patients in Beverly Hills, CA.

What is a smile makeover?

A smile makeover is a treatment plan that combines more than one cosmetic or restorative step to change how your whole smile looks and works. Depending on your teeth and your goals, that plan can include whitening, veneers, orthodontic treatment or bite correction, done in an order that fits you. Some people come in for their health, others to love their smile again, and most want both.

Dr. Nader offers whitening, veneers and smile makeovers, and he describes his cosmetic work this way: "Everything is by design and tailored for your specific needs, wants and expectations."

He's just as clear about the look he's aiming for: "We build smile transformations that look natural, not obvious."

How is a smile makeover different from getting veneers?

Veneers are one tool inside a smile makeover. A veneer is a thin, custom covering bonded to the front surface of a tooth, and it can improve teeth that are chipped, stained, misshapen or gapped.

A smile makeover looks at your whole mouth first. Here's how the two compare:

• Veneers alone change the front surface of the teeth they cover: color, shape and small gaps.
• A smile makeover starts with your goals, the position of your teeth and how your bite fits together, then chooses the steps that get you there. Veneers may be one of those steps, or the plan may lean on whitening and straightening instead.

Placing a veneer means removing a layer of tooth enamel, and the American Dental Association notes that this step can't be reversed. That's one reason we walk you through every option, including the ones that leave your enamel as it is, before you decide.

Why does your bite matter in a smile makeover?

Your bite affects how your smile works every day. The American Association of Orthodontists says a good bite supports easier chewing and speaking, and that untreated orthodontic problems can lead to abnormal enamel wear.

The bite matters for veneers, too. According to the ADA, teeth grinding, clenching or a deep overbite may make veneers a poor choice. When the bite is part of the plan from the start, the cosmetic steps that follow are planned around how your teeth come together.

That's why Dr. Nader's work reaches from full-mouth implants to bite corrections, and his bio lists Smile Facelift among his specialties.

If you're an adult wondering whether it's too late to change your bite, it isn't. The AAO says it's never too late to have a beautiful and healthy smile, and many orthodontic patients today are adults.

What happens at a smile makeover consultation?

Your first visit starts with a conversation. Dr. Nader sits down, faces you, and asks what's going on, what's worrying you and what you're hoping for. Only then do we take a full set of X-rays and a wellness scan that shows your teeth in detail right on screen.

From there, you get a plan you can understand:

• Your options are laid out in order of priority, including the option to do nothing for now.
• You'll know the plan, the costs, and the pros and cons before anything begins.
• We'll go over it as many times as you need, with no pressure and no fear tactics.

Monica, our treatment coordinator, has handled treatment plans and financial questions alongside Dr. Nader for 25 years. She can walk you through insurance and payment options by phone, text or email.

Why do Beverly Hills patients choose Dr. Nader Afshari for a smile makeover?

Patients choose Dr. Nader because he brings 30 years of hands-on experience to every smile makeover, including complex cases and bite corrections. He trained in a program where he learned to handle complex cases himself, and his credentials include training in orthodontics. He was also an early adopter of expanders in the late 1990s, and today his bio describes him as extremely gentle, using what he calls his dental ninja skills.

Your visit is private, too. There's one patient in the office at a time at our Beverly Hills dental office, nine floors up and one block from Rodeo Drive, so nobody rushes you through a big decision. Dr. Nader speaks English, Spanish, Italian and Persian, so you can talk through your smile in the language you're most comfortable with.

You can read more about whitening, veneers and smile makeovers on our cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills page.

Ready to see what a smile makeover could look like for you? Call or text us at 310-278-6630, or send us a note to schedule your consultation. We're at 414 N Camden Dr #925, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Published by Beverly Hills Dental.