Your smile is often the first thing that people notice. It exudes warmth, confidence and friendliness — all without saying a word. Conversely, if you find yourself reflexively covering your mouth when you smile or laugh, that may have an impact that goes beyond just looks. Studies have shown that your smile affects how you see yourself and how the world sees you.
If you are unhappy with your smile for any reason at all, perhaps a smile makeover is what you are after.
The good news is that a makeover doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. For some patients it’s a comprehensive transformation involving several treatments; for others it’s a single, conservative adjustment — softening a pointy canine, or smoothing a chipped edge — completed in one visit. Let’s take a look at what’s involved, and where your own smile might sit on that spectrum.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover takes a comprehensive approach to cosmetic dentistry. It combines a host of cosmetic dental treatments which are carefully selected to address your specific concerns while holistically achieving your smile goals.
Every smile makeover begins with a detailed consultation. Your Canberra dentist will first discuss your specific concerns with your current smile and the ideal changes that you envision. The cosmetic dentist would then examine your teeth, gums, bite and facial structure to understand how these different elements interact.
At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we take a holistic approach that goes beyond individual teeth. This includes studying every smile element: tooth colour, tooth alignment, tooth spacing, tooth shape, tooth size, gum health, gum appearance, bite relationship, and how your smile complements your facial features. The goal is to create a natural-looking smile that is not only attractive, but is well-balanced and complements the rest of your facial features.
Popular smile makeover components
Teeth whitening
Professional teeth whitening can dramatically brighten discoloured or stained teeth. The professional results (whether in-clinic or take-home kit) far exceed those derived from over-the-counter whitening products, given the former uses carefully controlled bleaching that achieves even, natural-looking whiteness.
Porcelain veneers
Thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth to mask and correct multiple imperfections. They are generally used to change tooth colour, shape, length and even create the appearance of better aligned teeth. Veneers are capable of transforming a smile dramatically without the need for invasive surgery.
Dental bonding
Tooth-coloured composite resin used for targeted improvements, including repairing chips, closing gaps, or reshaping teeth. More conservative than veneers, bonding often works in combination with other treatments.
Cosmetic recontouring
This procedure subtly reshapes teeth by removing small amounts of enamel. This conservative treatment can be used to smooth rough edges, reduce minor overlaps or create better proportion between teeth. It is often the quickest and most affordable route to a noticeably better smile — we’ve covered it in detail further down the page.
Dental crowns
Full or partial tooth caps that restore severely damaged or decayed teeth while improving their appearance. Virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, today’s dental crowns are made from materials that closely match surrounding teeth in colour and translucency.
Orthodontic treatment
Modern options include traditional braces and clear aligners that might be incorporated to address alignment issues. Typically precedes other cosmetic treatment.
Dental implants
Titanium posts inserted and biologically fused with jawbones to replace missing teeth with permanent restorations. Dental implants are crucial components of comprehensive smile makeovers. They preserve bone structure, restore full function while completing your natural-looking smile.
Gum recontouring
This procedure addresses excessive gum tissue that makes teeth appear short or uneven. It can dramatically improve smile aesthetics by revealing more tooth structure and creating the appearance of a balanced smile. At our Coombs clinic, gum recontouring is performed using laser treatment.
Cosmetic recontouring: the conservative option
Have you ever stared at a tooth in the mirror and thought that it could be just a little different? Maybe it’s a bit too pointy, or jutting out of its position, or it has a tiny chip marring an otherwise great smile. If you have concerns about a minor cosmetic dental flaw that is affecting your confidence to smile, we have good news! You can turn to cosmetic recontouring.
Also known as tooth reshaping or enameloplasty, cosmetic recontouring can fix these small issues quickly, comfortably and affordably. It is a conservative cosmetic dental procedure that is able to transform your smile in a single visit — often without needing an anaesthetic.
What can I expect from a cosmetic recontouring procedure?
A cosmetic recontouring procedure involves subtle cosmetic artistry in which your dentist carefully removes tiny amounts of tooth enamel to improve the shape, length, or surface of your teeth.
To illustrate the precise and controlled nature of this procedure, only fractions of a millimetre of enamel is typically removed to obtain the desired result. Using specialised tools and fine diamond burs, the dentist gently sculpts your tooth enamel to achieve precise results. Before polishing the tooth to a high shine, the dentist constantly checks the contour and symmetry to ensure natural-looking aesthetics. Since only the hard outer enamel layer is being removed, most patients feel little to no discomfort at all. Also, no recovery time is needed. That means you can get back to your normal activities straight away.
Problems cosmetic recontouring can fix
Dental recontouring offers a precise, minimally invasive solution for a variety of minor cosmetic issues. Key applications include:
Chips and Wear
Seamlessly restore the natural contour of a tooth with minor damage from accidents or everyday use.
Slight Overlaps
Contour small areas of overlapping teeth to create the illusion of better alignment. Ideal for minor issues but not to be used as a substitute for orthodontics in cases of significant crowding.
Uneven Length
Level teeth that appear too long or short compared to their neighbouring teeth to create a more symmetrical and harmonious smile.
Prominent Canines
Subtly soften pointy or overly sharp canine teeth to achieve better proportionality with surrounding teeth.
Rough Enamel
Polish irregular or rough enamel surfaces such that it improves overall appearance and feel, in addition to creating a smoother surface that resists staining.
Minor Overcrowding
Remove small amounts of enamel from contact points to create the appearance of improved spacing and alignment in cases of slight crowding.
Benefits of cosmetic recontouring
The conservative nature of this procedure is arguably its biggest advantage. Unlike veneers or crowns, recontouring works with your natural tooth structure rather than covering or replacing it.
In most cases, your smile transformation happens in a single appointment lasting 30 minutes to an hour. The non-invasive and cost-effective nature of the recontouring procedure makes the treatment accessible to many people. It produces lasting results that require little or no maintenance and eliminates the need for replacement.
Recontouring often complements other treatments beautifully. For example, recontouring may be used alongside dental bonding, where slight shaping creates better proportion before bonding material is added. Or it can follow orthodontic treatment to refine the final result.
Is cosmetic recontouring right for you?
Cosmetic recontouring works best for minor cosmetic concerns. It is not recommended for significant structural problems, severely damaged teeth, or major alignment issues. Your enamel must be thick and healthy enough to safely remove the small amount needed for reshaping.
To be an ideal candidate for this treatment, you must have good oral health and adequate enamel thickness. Your Canberra dentist will evaluate your teeth carefully to determine if recontouring is appropriate. As mentioned, your dentist might recommend combining it with teeth whitening, dental bonding, or other procedures to achieve your ideal smile.
A smile makeover isn’t vanity. It’s about investing in your wellbeing and future.
Ready to explore the possibilities for your smile? Schedule your smile makeover consultation at Molonglo Dental Surgery — call us at 02 6287 1222, or visit us in Coombs, Molonglo Valley.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Smile Makeovers
The cost of a smile makeover varies significantly depending on which procedures your makeover includes and how extensive the work is. For example, a simple makeover — typically involving whitening and bonding — would cost considerably less than one that includes veneers, implants, and orthodontics.
At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we will discuss your options and provide a detailed cost breakdown of the treatment plan prior to treatment. We offer flexible payment plans through AfterPay and Ezi-Pay, to ensure that our smile makeover packages are more accessible by spreading their costs over manageable periods.
Your smile makeover journey begins with an in-depth consultation where we discuss your concerns and goals. During the consultation, it helps to be specific about your smile concerns, and you are encouraged to bring along photos of smiles you admire. Your dentist would then perform a comprehensive examination, take photographs and even create models of your teeth.
Next, the dentist would design a tailored treatment plan based on the careful consideration of which procedures will achieve your goals most effectively. They will also explain the various options, discuss timelines and provide cost estimates.
The treatment phase varies in length according to the procedures that have been selected. Smile makeovers can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Some makeovers can even extend to a year, particularly those options that involve orthodontics or implants.
Your dentist will create a scheduled timeline based on the logical sequence of treatments — often addressing functional issues before purely cosmetic ones. At the conservative end of the scale, a cosmetic recontouring appointment can be completed in a single visit.
In the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, a smile makeover would look completely natural. The goal is to enhance your smile, not make you unrecognisable.
At Molonglo Dental Surgery, our cosmetic dentists take a holistic approach to create results that ultimately flatter your facial features, age and personality. We carefully study and take into consideration factors such as tooth size relative to your face, subtle colour variations that prevent an overly bright look, and natural contours that catch light realistically. We also involve you in the decision-making process, providing previews along the way, to make sure you are kept abreast of the entire makeover journey.
You are never too old to improve your smile. We are proud that our smile makeover treatments cater across the age spectrum: from patients in their twenties through their eighties and beyond.
Our smile concerns tend to change with age. While younger patients tend to focus on alignment and whitening, more senior patients may address wear, discolouration, or missing teeth. Either way, we customise the treatment plan to your specific situation, regardless of age. One thing we often hear from patients is that they wish they’d done it sooner.
It depends on the severity of misalignment. Minor crowding or slight rotation can sometimes be addressed with cosmetic recontouring, veneers or bonding, creating the appearance of straighter teeth without moving them.
However, significant misalignment, bite problems, or severely rotated teeth usually require orthodontic treatment for optimal results and long-term stability. Sometimes we combine approaches — orthodontics to achieve proper alignment, followed by veneers or bonding to refine the final result. We’ll assess your specific situation and recommend the most effective approach.
We offer comprehensive smile makeover services under one roof, including:
- Professional teeth whitening
- Porcelain veneers
- Dental bonding
- Cosmetic recontouring
- Crowns and bridges
- Dental implants
- Orthodontics
- Gum recontouring with laser treatment
- Full mouth rehabilitation
Having all these services available at our Coombs clinic in Molonglo Valley means you can complete your entire smile transformation with the same trusted team, without referrals to multiple specialists. This provides seamless continuous care, often translating into better communication, coordinated care and more predictable results.
With proper care, most smile makeover results can last many years. Porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years or longer. Dental implants can last a lifetime. Crowns generally last 10 to 15 years. While teeth whitening results fade over time, they can be easily maintained with touch-up treatments. Likewise, cosmetic bonding may need touch-ups every few years.
While teeth whitening results fade over time, they can be easily maintained with touch-up treatments. Likewise, cosmetic bonding may need touch-ups every few years. Cosmetic recontouring, by contrast, permanently reshapes the tooth and needs no ongoing maintenance beyond your usual routine.
Yes. At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we use digital smile visualisation tools to show you potential results before treatment begins. This may include digital mockups, temporary restorations or before-and-after photos of similar cases.
These previews form part of our comprehensive smile consultation, where we examine your teeth, explain your options, and create a personalised treatment plan with your specific conditions in mind. Whether cosmetic recontouring alone will achieve your goals, or whether combining it with other treatments is better, we are here to provide honest and expert recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cosmetic Recontouring
Most patients experience no pain during cosmetic recontouring because only the hard outer enamel is being reshaped — this layer has no nerve endings. You might feel a slight sensation due to the vibration and pressure, but generally speaking, it is a very comfortable procedure.
Anaesthetic is rarely needed. Some patients experience brief sensitivity to temperature afterwards, but it typically settles within a few days. At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we take a gentle approach and constantly check in with you throughout the procedure to ensure your comfort.
When performed by a well-trained and skilled dentist, cosmetic recontouring does not weaken your teeth. It is a precise procedure where only small amounts of enamel are removed — typically fractions of a millimetre.
In addition, your dentist would carefully evaluate your enamel thickness before the procedure to ensure that there is an adequate amount of enamel to protect your natural tooth. The removal is so minimal that it does not compromise tooth structure or strength. In fact, recontouring can actually improve your oral health by making your teeth easier to clean.
Cost varies depending on how many teeth need recontouring and the complexity of the work required. That said, cosmetic recontouring is generally considered one of the most affordable cosmetic dental procedures.
During your consultation, we will provide a detailed quote based on your specific needs, and our AfterPay and Ezi-Pay payment plans are available here too.
Depending on how many teeth are being reshaped and the complexity of the work, most cosmetic recontouring procedures take between 30 minutes to one hour. As a standard gauge, the simple smoothing of a chipped edge would take minutes, while the contouring of multiple teeth for better alignment requires more time. The procedure can be completed in a single visit.
At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we’re open evenings and weekends, making it easier to schedule your appointment around work.
Yes. Cosmetic recontouring pairs beautifully with other treatments. It’s often combined with teeth whitening to enhance both shape and colour simultaneously. Dental bonding might follow recontouring to build up areas of your teeth while reshaping smooths others. Some patients have recontouring done after orthodontic treatment to refine the final result.
There’s typically no downtime or recovery period needed. You can eat, drink, and resume normal activities immediately. While some patients may experience slight temperature sensitivity for a few days, this is usually mild and temporary. We do recommend avoiding very hot or cold foods for the first 24 hours.
Maintaining your recontoured teeth is simple: just follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush twice daily, floss daily, and visit Molonglo Dental Surgery for regular check-ups and cleans. For teeth grinders (bruxers), we may recommend a custom nightguard to protect your investment.