Depending on which procedures and how many procedures you will undergo during this smile makeover, your timeline can vary. Some smile transformations can take only a few appointments and a few weeks in recovery, or a few months with lots of visits to the dentist. Each individual situation is different according to their needs. If the teeth and gums are generally healthy, then a transformation can be much quicker. The healing time is shorter, and no preparation needs to be done before the procedures commence. If a patient has healthy gums and teeth with no cavities or decay, then the overall process becomes shorter and easier to heal.

If a patient has periodontal disease (gum disease) the dentist must first correct this issue and allow time for proper gum tissue healing. This is typically done with an extensive cleaning and scraping off all the tartar and plaque buildup. When gum disease is present, teeth will start to detach themselves from the gum line, and the tooth root can be exposed. There are irreversible kinds of gum disease cases; in these extreme cases, teeth may need to be extracted and replaced in order to move forward. No aesthetic changes can be made if there is any sort of infection or disease present in the mouth. If this is the case, the overall timeline of the procedures will take months.

In addition to the healing timeline, there is also scheduling an appointment, which may take time as well. Plus, a dental lab could take longer than expected when creating dental veneers or dental implants. Be sure to talk to your dentist about your timeline questions. He or she can answer extensively about how long each process can take. Some procedures may only be one day in office and a few days of healing, while others can be much more extensive.