✨ Cosmetic Dentistry — Enhanced Wellness
What Is a Smile Makeover? How I Plan One With My Patients
Dr. Liza Wakim explains what a smile makeover actually is, how she plans one with her patients, and what to expect from the process — from first consultation to final result.
There's a phrase I hear in consultations more than almost any other: "I just want to feel like myself again."
Sometimes it comes from someone who's been hiding their smile in photos for years. Sometimes it's a person who had great teeth as a kid and watched things shift, chip, or fade over time. Sometimes it's someone who's never felt fully confident in their smile — not even once — and has finally decided to do something about it.
What they're all describing, whether they know it or not, is a smile makeover. And the first thing I tell every one of them is this: it's not a procedure. It's a plan.
What a Smile Makeover Actually Is
A smile makeover is a customized combination of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments designed to address everything you want to change about your smile — in the right sequence, at the right pace, for your specific teeth, face, and goals.
There's no single procedure called a "smile makeover." It's not something you can point to on a menu. What it is, is a treatment plan I build with you — one that might include teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, Invisalign, gum contouring, crowns, or implants, depending on what your smile needs and what you're hoping to achieve.
The combination is different for every patient. That's the point.
01
Teeth whitening
The foundation of most plans — sets the shade baseline before any restorations are placed.
02
Veneers
Composite or porcelain shells that address shape, size, and color for the front-facing teeth.
03
Dental bonding
A versatile option for chips, minor gaps, and slight irregularities where a full veneer isn't needed.
04
Invisalign
Straightening teeth before cosmetic work often reduces what's needed — and produces a more natural result.
05
Gum contouring
Reshapes the gumline to frame the teeth evenly — often the finishing touch that pulls a smile together.
06
Crowns & implants
For teeth too damaged for a veneer, or gaps from missing teeth that affect the overall smile.
How I Think About a Consultation
My training at the Pankey Institute shaped the way I approach every new patient, and nowhere is that more true than in a smile makeover consultation. The Pankey philosophy holds that before a dentist recommends anything, they need to understand what the patient actually values — not just clinically, but personally.
So when someone sits down with me for the first time and says they want a smile makeover, I don't start talking about procedures. I start asking questions.
The questions I ask every patient
What bothers you most about your smile right now? Is it the color, the shape, the alignment, the way your gums frame your teeth — or all of the above? What does your ideal outcome look like? Are you working toward a specific timeline — a wedding, a reunion, a milestone birthday? What's your lifestyle like — are you a coffee drinker, do you grind your teeth, do you play contact sports?
The answers to those questions shape everything. A smile makeover for someone who wants subtle, natural-looking improvement looks completely different from one designed for someone who wants a dramatic transformation. Neither is wrong. Both are right, for the right person.
What the Planning Process Looks Like
Once I understand what a patient wants, I do a comprehensive clinical assessment — examining the health of the teeth and gums, the bite, the bone structure, and how the smile relates to the face as a whole. Cosmetic dentistry doesn't exist in isolation. A great smile has to work with your facial proportions, your lip line, the way your teeth show when you talk and laugh — not just when you're posing for a photo.
From there, I build a sequenced treatment plan. Sequence matters more than most patients expect.
1
Whitening first
If whitening is part of the plan, it happens before veneers or bonding — because we match restorations to the final whitened shade, not the starting one.
2
Address underlying issues
If there's any underlying gum disease or structural issue, that gets addressed first. Cosmetic work built on a compromised foundation won't hold.
3
Orthodontic work if needed
If orthodontic work is needed to shift teeth before cosmetic work begins, we plan for that timeline upfront — no surprises mid-process.
4
Cosmetic finishing
Veneers, bonding, gum contouring, and other visible cosmetic work happens last — once the foundation is solid and the shade is set.
A note on phasing
Some patients want to — or need to — spread treatment across several months for scheduling or financial reasons. A well-designed smile makeover can absolutely be phased without compromising the outcome, as long as the sequencing is right. That's something I map out clearly at the start, so there are no surprises.
What to Expect From the Process
The timeline for a smile makeover depends entirely on what's involved. A plan centered on whitening and composite veneers might be completed in a few appointments over a month or two. A more comprehensive plan involving Invisalign, porcelain veneers, and gum contouring might unfold over the better part of a year.
What I can tell you is that I don't rush this process, and I don't think patients should either. A smile is something you'll have for the rest of your life. The time spent planning it well — understanding your options, making deliberate choices, addressing things in the right order — is time that pays off every single day.
I believe the heart communicates first with a smile. When someone leaves this practice with a smile they're genuinely proud of, that's not just a cosmetic outcome. It changes how they carry themselves. It changes how they walk into a room.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends entirely on what's involved. A simple plan — whitening and composite veneers — might be done in a few appointments over a month or two. A comprehensive plan with Invisalign, porcelain veneers, and gum contouring could unfold over the better part of a year. At your consultation, Dr. Wakim will give you a realistic timeline based on your specific plan.
Because every plan is different, there's no single price. The cost depends on which treatments are included and how many teeth are involved. At your consultation, Dr. Wakim will walk through your options and provide a clear breakdown of costs before anything is decided. Many patients choose to phase treatment over time for financial flexibility — and that's completely accommodated.
Not at all. Many patients come in with only a vague sense that something about their smile bothers them. That's exactly what the consultation is for. Dr. Wakim will ask questions, examine your teeth, and help you understand your options — so you can make an informed decision at your own pace.
Both. Many smile makeovers include restorative work — crowns for damaged teeth, implants for missing ones — alongside purely cosmetic treatments. In fact, addressing structural issues is often a prerequisite for cosmetic work to succeed and last. A good plan considers the whole picture, not just the surface.
That depends on what you want — and it's one of the first things Dr. Wakim discusses. Some patients want a subtle improvement that nobody can quite put their finger on. Others want a visible transformation. Both are achievable. What Dr. Wakim always avoids is the "veneers look" — teeth that appear uniform, flat, or disconnected from the face. A well-planned smile should look like the best version of you.
Ready to Start the Conversation?
You don't need to know exactly what you want or have a plan in mind. That's Dr. Wakim's job. Come in, ask your questions, and leave knowing what's possible for your smile.
Enhanced Wellness · 620 N Main St, Washington, PA 15301
Serving Washington, Canonsburg, Peters Township & surrounding areas
Serving Washington, Canonsburg, Peters Township & surrounding areas
