Most people picture a smile makeover as one appointment and a dramatic reveal. In practice it is a sequence of planned visits, and knowing that sequence ahead of time takes much of the uncertainty out of the process. This walkthrough explains what to expect during smile makeover treatment at Dental & TMJ Specialists of Greater DC in Bethesda, Maryland, from the first oral health evaluation through the final adjustments, so you can plan your calendar and your questions before you book.

A smile makeover is a cosmetic dental treatment plan that combines two or more procedures, such as porcelain or composite veneers, teeth whitening, crowns, dental bonding, clear aligners or implants. Because the combination is different for every patient, the timeline is too. What stays consistent is the order: health first, function second, appearance last.

Visit One: The Smile Design Conversation

Your first appointment is about listening and gathering information. Expect to talk through your aesthetic smile goals in plain terms: the chip you notice in photos, the shade you would like, the gap you have never liked, or the worn edges that make your teeth look short. Your specialist will also review your dental and medical history, because medications, past restorations and conditions such as grinding all shape what is realistic.

The clinical side of the visit usually includes:

A full oral health evaluation of teeth, gums and existing restorations
Dental photography assessment to record how your teeth, lips and gums look at rest and when you smile
Digital impressions with the 3Shape Trios intraoral scanner, which replaces the messy putty trays many patients remember
Imaging, which may include i-CAT cone beam CT when implants or bone levels are part of the discussion
A bite check to see how your upper and lower teeth meet and whether your jaw joints are under strain

You can read more about these tools on our technology page.

Laying the Groundwork: Gum Health and Bite Alignment Correction

Before placing anything cosmetic, the foundation has to be stable. Veneers and crowns bonded to inflamed gums or a bite that grinds itself down will not hold up the way you want them to. If your evaluation shows gum disease, decay, or bite problems, those are treated first.

For some patients, this phase is a single cleaning and a few fillings. For others, it involves care from our board-certified periodontist through our periodontal and oral systemic health services, or straightening crowded or spaced teeth with SureSmile clear aligners so that later veneers can be thinner and more conservative. Patients with jaw pain or clenching may also be evaluated for TMJ treatment, since a new smile needs a comfortable, stable bite underneath it.

This stage can feel slow when you are eager to see the cosmetic result, but it is often what separates restorations that last from ones that need early repair.

Reviewing your personalized treatment plan

Once the records are in and any foundational concerns are identified, your prosthodontist puts together a written cosmetic dental treatment plan. A good plan answers four questions: which teeth are being treated, with which procedure, in what order, and over how many appointments.

This is the right moment to speak up about tooth length, shape, or shade. Your photographs and digital scans make it easier to talk through those details together, and adjusting a design at the planning stage is far simpler than changing it after porcelain has been made.

Cost is reviewed at this stage as well. Because fees depend entirely on which procedures your plan includes and how many teeth are involved, a specific figure is only possible after the evaluation.

Who designs your plan?

Smile makeovers at our Bethesda practice are planned by our board-certified prosthodontists; our specialists are trained in restoring and replacing teeth, with support from a board-certified periodontist when gum health is part of the picture. You can learn about the full team on our Meet Us page, and for a broader look at the procedures involved, see our complete guide to smile makeover treatments.

Treatment Appointments, Step by Step

The active phase usually involves multiple dental appointments, often grouped so related work happens together. Here is how the most common components tend to unfold.

Teeth whitening treatment

Whitening is usually done before any veneers or crowns, because porcelain and composite do not respond to bleaching. Matching new restorations to a freshly brightened shade keeps everything consistent. Options include in-office Zoom whitening and an at-home system using custom trays, both described on our teeth whitening page. Some temporary tooth sensitivity is common for a few days.

Dental veneers procedure

Veneers typically take two to three appointments over a few weeks. At the preparation visit, a thin layer of enamel is removed from the front of each tooth, impressions are taken, and temporary veneers are placed. The lab generally needs one to two weeks to craft your custom veneers. At the next visit, your specialist checks shape, color, and fit before bonding them in place and fine-tuning your bite.

Crowns, bonding, and gum contouring

Teeth that are cracked, heavily filled, or worn may need porcelain crowns rather than veneers, since a crown covers and protects the whole tooth. Small chips and uneven edges are sometimes handled with dental bonding in a single visit. Where the gumline is uneven, gum contouring with a dental laser may be suggested to frame the teeth more evenly. Your plan will specify which of these, if any, applies to you.

Replacing missing teeth

If your smile makeover includes replacing a missing tooth, this is usually the longest part of the treatment timeline. A dental implant needs time to integrate with the jawbone before its final crown is placed, often around three months after healing, while a dental bridge can usually be completed in two to three appointments over several weeks.

Recovery Time and the Overall Treatment Timeline

Between visits

Most cosmetic procedures involve little downtime. After whitening or veneer placement, many patients return to work the same day. Mild tooth sensitivity, gum tenderness around new restorations, or a bite that feels slightly different for a few days are common and usually settle on their own. Surgical steps such as implant placement involve a longer recovery period with specific instructions, and you should arrange a ride home if sedation is used.

Between appointments, keep brushing and flossing gently, avoid biting into very hard foods with temporaries in place, and call the office if a temporary comes loose. Our care instructions cover procedure-specific guidance, and our earlier article on smile makeover recovery and aftercare goes into more detail.

How long the whole process takes

There is no single answer, but the treatment timeline generally falls into one of three patterns:

Cosmetic refresh. Whitening plus a few veneers or bonding can often be completed in a few weeks.
Alignment first. When clear aligners straighten teeth before restorations, the plan stretches over several months.
Full restoration. Plans involving implants, periodontal therapy, or bite reconstruction may run several months or longer.

Your specialist will give you a realistic estimate for your own plan before treatment begins, and individual timelines can vary.

The Final Reveal and Follow-Up

The last restorative visit is usually followed by a check-up a short time later. Your specialist will look at how the gums have settled around new restorations, confirm your bite feels even, and make any small polishing adjustments. Some patients with porcelain work are also fitted for a night guard to protect their investment if they clench or grind.

From there, results depend largely on daily habits and regular professional cleanings. Porcelain veneers and crowns are durable, but they are not permanent, and whitening may need periodic touch-ups.

Bring Your Smile Goals to a Consultation

The easiest way to know what your own smile transformation journey will involve is to sit down with a specialist and look at your teeth together. Request a smile makeover consultation, or call our Bethesda office.

Lauren M. Bolding DDS, MS, FACP

Board Certified Prosthodontist Maxillofacial Prosthodontist Orofacial Pain & TMJ at Dental & TMJ Specialists of Greater DC | Website | + posts

Dr. Bolding earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from New York University College of Dentistry and completed a Master of Science and Prosthodontics Residency at the University of Maryland. She further pursued advanced training in Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and later earned a Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine from the University of Southern California. A Board-Certified Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Dr. Bolding is also a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists and a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics. She specializes in restoring oral and facial structures affected by cancer, trauma, or congenital conditions and treats complex cases involving orofacial pain, TMJ disorders, and advanced esthetic rehabilitation. Recognized by peers as a top doctor in the Greater DC area, she has also received the Joseph B. Barron Award for excellence in clinical care, education, and research. Dr. Bolding is a past President of the ACP–Maryland Chapter, served as Program Chair for the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics in 2024, and is a board member for the Foundation for Facial Recovery.

What to Expect During Smile Makeover Treatment: A Visit-by-Visit Walkthrough