A common idea is to straighten first and restore second. When you are planning a smile makeover in Beverly Hills, I would rather start somewhere else: with the smile you want to end up with.
Straight is not the same as right
Orthodontics moves teeth. A smile is designed for a face. Teeth can be beautifully straight and still not sit in harmony with your lips, your eyes and the way you smile when you mean it.
That is why I like to know the destination before anyone chooses the route.
A smile makeover in Beverly Hills starts with the finish line
In my practice, the plan runs backward from the result. I look at position, proportion and fullness on your face, and then we ask what the most elegant route there is.
Sometimes that route includes orthodontics. When it does, every month of movement should serve the final design. Sometimes the design can be reached with porcelain alone. Either way, you get an honest answer about what I would actually recommend.
If you want the full picture of what the process involves, read what a smile makeover actually involves.
What the first visit looks like
It is ninety minutes. We talk about your dental and medical history, the mouth you have and the one you want. I examine your teeth, gums and bite, and we take x-rays, scans and photos.
If you are already considering aligners, this is the right moment to bring that up. We can look at it together against the smile you want.
A good question to bring
Ask: who has designed my final smile, and does this plan serve that design? When the answer is clear, every step has a purpose. I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office.
Continue reading: What a smile makeover actually involves · A smile makeover is not a procedure
Common questions
Do I need Invisalign before veneers?
Sometimes. It depends on your teeth and the final smile we design. When orthodontics is part of the plan, it should serve that design.
Can a smile makeover be done without braces or aligners?
For some smiles, yes. At the consultation you get an honest answer about what is possible for yours.
What happens at a smile makeover consultation in Beverly Hills?
A ninety-minute visit: your history, an exam of your teeth, gums and bite, x-rays, scans and photos, and an honest recommendation.
Should I tell you if I am already in aligners?
Yes. Bring it to the consultation so we can look at your plan against the smile you want.
This article is general information only and not a substitute for a personal exam and treatment plan from your own dentist.
Cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in Beverly Hills and New York since 2015. NYU College of Dentistry. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Stribe, where she has trained more than 1,000 dentists.
About Dr. Andi
