Celebrity Smiles: Myths vs. Reality

Celebrity smiles look effortless on a red carpet: bright, even and ready for a camera from every angle. They also give many people the wrong idea about cosmetic dentistry. Some assume a great smile means the whitest possible teeth, teeth ground down to stubs, or a lifestyle only famous people have. The reality at a cosmetic practice in Timonium is more practical, and usually more natural. Here are the most common myths, and what cosmetic dentistry with Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS actually involves.

What celebrity smiles cosmetic dentistry actually involves

There is no secret celebrity procedure. The smiles people admire on screen are built from the same cosmetic treatments available to anyone who walks into a cosmetic dental office: porcelain veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, dental bonding, gum reshaping and orthodontics. What differs from one smile to the next is the plan: which teeth are treated, which materials are chosen, and how the result is designed around the face it belongs to.

At the Timonium practice, cosmetic options include porcelain veneers, prepless veneers, teeth whitening, dental bonding, porcelain crowns, gum lifts, same-day and ultimate smile makeovers, and cosmetic imaging to preview the result. Dental implants replace missing teeth and Invisalign straightens them. Many smiles combine two or more. See the full range of cosmetic dentistry in Timonium.

Myth 1: The whiter, the better

The brightest shade is not always the most attractive one. Teeth that are far whiter than the whites of the eyes, or out of step with a person’s skin tone, can look artificial in everyday light even if they look striking under studio lights. A good shade looks like your own teeth on their best day.

Professional whitening at the practice is customized to your teeth. If your teeth are very dark, Dr. Haywood will counsel you on your options before you start, because whitening is not always the whole answer. Porcelain veneers and dental bonding can also correct discolored teeth. Compare the options in teeth whitening in Timonium.

Myth 2: A perfect smile has identical teeth

Natural teeth are not copies of each other. Front teeth differ slightly in length and width, edges have subtle character, and enamel is a little translucent near the tips. When every tooth is the same size, the same shape and one flat color, a smile starts to look like a row of piano keys.

Dr. Haywood insists on a natural, never-fake look. Ultra-thin porcelain stays translucent and shiny like natural enamel once it is bonded, and veneers are hand-crafted in the USA by master ceramists who blend colors and translucencies with the small details that make a tooth look like a tooth. Read more about the design side in the artistry of cosmetic dentistry.

Myth 3: Veneers mean grinding your teeth down

This is the myth that scares people away most often. A veneer can be as thin as a contact lens. It partially wraps around the tooth like a suit of armor, protecting and strengthening it, and unlike traditional veneers or crowns it does not require grinding down the entire tooth.

For patients who qualify, prepless veneers preserve most if not all of the natural enamel with little or no drilling. Not everyone qualifies: teeth with damage or older dental work often need traditional porcelain veneers to strengthen them, and a veneer may need to be thicker or more opaque where the tooth underneath is very dark. Dr. Haywood always chooses the thinnest veneer and the most conservative approach that will do the job.

Myth 4: You have to treat every tooth

Many of the changes people notice come from only a few teeth. In some cases, dramatic results come from treating just a few teeth; in others, all of the teeth are treated to produce the most appropriate bite and overall beauty. The right number depends on your teeth, not on a formula.

Sometimes the change is not the teeth at all. A gummy smile is often caused by extra gum tissue rather than short teeth, and a gum lift can rebalance it. And sometimes the smallest fix, such as bonding one chipped edge, is all a smile needs. See small changes that perk up a smile.

Myth 5: A new smile happens overnight for everyone

Some changes really are fast. A same-day smile makeover can be completed in a single day, planned around a wedding, a new job or your day off. Bonding a chip usually takes one visit. An ultimate smile makeover that combines several treatments can be completed in as few as two visits.

But not every smile should be rushed. When teeth need to move into a better position before they are touched, Invisalign clear aligners shift them first, and Invisalign is often combined with veneer makeovers. When the gums are unhealthy, that comes first too. The right timeline is the one your teeth need. For event planning, see a spotlight-ready smile timeline.

Myth 6: Cosmetic dentistry is only about looks

A beautiful smile that doesn’t bite properly can wear or chip early. The aim of a makeover at the practice is optimal function and beauty together. Porcelain crowns restore the shape of damaged teeth and protect them from further damage and decay. Bonding repairs fractures as well as discoloration. And bite protection is recommended for any cosmetic treatment to protect your investment. For the practical side of cosmetic care, read 5 reasons to choose cosmetic dentistry.

Myth 7: Celebrity smiles are only for celebrities

You don’t need to be a public figure to deserve the kind of care that comes with a smile makeover. Patients come to the Timonium office from Towson, Hunt Valley, Pikesville and Baltimore because of an upcoming event, a job in front of people, or simply because they are tired of hiding their smile behind a hand or closed lips.

Every smile is unique, so the cost depends on your plan, and you get a clear estimate up front. The practice is out of network with insurance companies: you pay at the time of service, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for anything it covers. HSA and flex plans are welcome. Financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months.

Myth 8: Once it is done, it lasts forever without care

Cosmetic work is durable, but it is not maintenance-free. Porcelain resists stains better than natural teeth or composite, and with appropriate home care and professional care, veneers can last for decades. Composite bonding stains more easily, so brush or at least rinse well after cola, coffee, tea or red wine. Teeth should never be used to open objects or cut things, and a custom bite guard helps protect your work if you grind.

The way you care for your smile is the best predictor of how long it lasts. See preventative maintenance for your smile for a simple routine.

See your own smile before you decide

The best cure for celebrity myths is seeing your own teeth. Before-and-after imaging is part of every cosmetic evaluation at the practice: digital photos of your smile are changed on the imaging computer, so you see a realistic preview rather than someone else’s smile. With porcelain veneers, you also evaluate a “test drive” set before the final set is made, which confirms the shape, color and look.

Dr. Haywood is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, trained at New York University’s Aesthetic Continuum, was selected to perform an extreme smile makeover on ABC, and has been featured in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine and New Beauty Magazine. Browse real results from patients of the practice in the smile gallery, or read what a smile makeover consultation covers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I show Dr. Haywood a smile I admire?

Yes. Veneer treatment starts with a conversation about your goals and what you find beautiful, so anything that helps you explain your taste is useful. Cosmetic imaging then shows how those ideas would look on your own smile.

Will veneers make my teeth look fake?

They shouldn’t. Dr. Haywood insists on a natural, never-fake look, ultra-thin porcelain stays translucent like enamel, and a trial set lets you judge the look before the final veneers are made.

Can I get a red-carpet smile in one day?

Sometimes. A same-day smile makeover can brighten your smile, repair a broken tooth or treat your gums in a single day. Larger plans may take two visits or more, and teeth that need to move first take longer.

Does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?

It depends on your plan and the treatment. The practice is out of network, so you pay at the time of service and the office files the claim so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers.

Book a cosmetic consultation in Timonium

If a celebrity smile is what got you thinking, the next step is finding out what suits your own. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, a short drive from Towson, Hunt Valley, Pikesville and Baltimore. If photos are your main concern, read how to feel camera-ready with a smile makeover.