| A smile makeover means different things to different patients. To us, it means one thing: a treatment plan built around your face, not a template. |
There’s a question we hear regularly from patients who’ve spent time looking into cosmetic dentistry: “What exactly is a smile makeover?” It sounds like a single treatment, but it isn’t. It’s a term for a coordinated combination of procedures — tailored to the individual — designed to comprehensively improve the appearance of your smile. Which procedures are included depends entirely on what your smile actually needs.
This guide explains what a smile makeover typically involves, how the planning process works, what it costs in sterling, and how long you’ll need in Antalya. If you’ve been thinking about veneers, whitening, or a more comprehensive transformation, this is the right place to start.
What Does “Smile Makeover” Actually Mean?
At its core, a smile makeover is a personalised treatment plan that may combine several cosmetic dental procedures to address the specific things you’re unhappy with about your smile. Unlike a single-treatment veneer course, a smile makeover begins with a thorough analysis of your teeth, gums, facial proportions and aesthetic goals — and builds the treatment around what’s actually needed.
The procedures that might be included are:
| Treatment component | What it addresses | Antalya cost |
| Porcelain veneers (E-max) | Discolouration, shape, size, minor alignment issues. The centrepiece of most smile makeovers. | from £150/tooth |
| Teeth whitening | Underlying shade of natural teeth before veneer shade-matching, or for teeth not receiving veneers. | from £150 |
| Gum contouring | Uneven or excessive gum line — removing or reshaping gum tissue for a more symmetrical smile. | from £100–£200 |
| Zirconia crowns | Heavily damaged, filled or root-canal-treated teeth that need full coverage rather than a veneer. | from £140/tooth |
| Composite bonding | Minor chips, small gaps or slight irregularities where minimal-prep solution is appropriate. | from £90/tooth |
| Dental photography & Digital Smile Design | Comprehensive digital preview — you see and approve the design before preparation begins. | Included in all cases |
Digital Smile Design: How We Plan Your Result
The most important element of any smile makeover isn’t a particular material or technique. It’s the planning process — and specifically whether you see and approve a digital model of your proposed result before anything is done to your teeth.
At Our Dentist Abroad, every smile makeover begins with Digital Smile Design. Here’s how it works:
| Step 1 | Comprehensive photography: standardised photographs of your face, smile and individual teeth are taken from multiple angles. |
| Step 2 | Digital analysis: your photographs are mapped against your facial proportions — the width of your nose, the line of your eyes, the shape of your jawline. The design is built to your face, not from a generic template. |
| Step 3 | Digital preview: a complete digital model of your proposed new smile is created and shown to you on screen. You can see exactly how each tooth will look — size, shape, shade and proportion. |
| Step 4 | Review and approval: you discuss the design with your cosmetic dentist, request any changes, and approve the final version. Nothing is prepared on your teeth until this step is complete. |
| Step 5 | Fabrication: your restorations are made to the approved design in our in-house ceramics laboratory. |
| The most common regret we hear from patients who’ve had cosmetic work done elsewhere: “Nobody showed me what it was going to look like beforehand.” At Our Dentist Abroad, no preparation begins until you’ve approved the design. |
Smile Makeover Package Costs in Sterling
The total cost of a smile makeover depends on how many teeth are involved and which procedures are included. Here are realistic package estimates based on our most common combinations:
| Package | What’s typically included | Antalya total (E-max) |
| Smile Zone (8 teeth) | 8 upper E-max veneers + whitening + Digital Smile Design | from £1,350 |
| Extended Smile (10 teeth) | 10 upper E-max veneers + whitening + Digital Smile Design | from £1,650 |
| Full Arch (16 teeth) | 16 upper E-max veneers + whitening + gum contouring + DSD | from £2,550 |
| Hollywood Smile (20 teeth) | 20 E-max veneers (upper + lower) + whitening + gum contouring + DSD | from £3,150 |
| Complete Makeover | 20 veneers + whitening + gum contouring + 2–4 zirconia crowns + DSD | from £3,500 |
All packages include Digital Smile Design, temporary veneers throughout the laboratory period, all clinical appointments, written aftercare instructions and a written guarantee. There are no consultation fees and no hidden charges. Your final quote is produced after a review of your photographs and any available X-rays — free of charge, within 24 hours.
How Long Will You Need in Antalya?
A typical smile makeover — veneers, whitening, and gum contouring — takes five to seven days in Antalya. Here’s the breakdown:
| Day 1Arrival, transfer, rest | Day 2Assessment, Digital Smile Design review and approval | Day 3Tooth preparation, whitening, temporaries fitted | Day 4Free day — lab producing your permanent veneers | Day 5Trial fitting — shape, colour and bite refined | Day 6Final bonding, photographs, guarantee issued | Day 7Optional final check, then transfer to airport |
If your plan includes gum contouring, this is typically performed on Day 3 before tooth preparation, allowing a few days of healing before the final bonding. Cases involving crowns alongside veneers may need a day or two extra — your patient coordinator will give you a specific schedule when your treatment plan is confirmed.
Our Approach to Smile Design
The word “makeover” gets used rather liberally in cosmetic dentistry, and it’s worth being clear about what separates a genuinely bespoke result from a standard package. The difference comes down to three things.
The first is analysis. Before any treatment is planned, we carry out a comprehensive assessment of your teeth, gum levels, bite and facial proportions. A smile that looks wonderful on one person can look wrong on another — not because the work was poor, but because the design didn’t take the whole face into account.
The second is communication. Our cosmetic dentist discusses your goals, shows you what’s achievable, explains any constraints, and works with you on the Digital Smile Design until the result on screen is something you’re genuinely happy with. You’re not approving a rough sketch. You’re approving a precise digital model of your new smile.
The third is material selection. Not every tooth in a smile makeover needs the same treatment. Some may be candidates for veneers; others may need crowns; a few might be better left alone or treated with composite bonding. We match the treatment to the tooth — not the tooth to the treatment template.
“I’d spent years being self-conscious about my smile. Uneven, discoloured, and a gap I’d always hated. I sent photographs via WhatsApp on a Tuesday and had a full treatment plan and quote by Wednesday. The design they showed me on Day 2 was so close to what I’d hoped for that I just cried. I came home with a smile I genuinely love.” — Patient from Newcastle, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have veneers as part of a smile makeover?
Not necessarily. A smile makeover is defined by what your smile needs — not by a fixed list of treatments. For some patients, whitening and gum contouring alone make a transformative difference. For others, composite bonding addresses minor issues without the need for more extensive preparation. We’ll always tell you what’s actually needed versus what’s optional, and we’ll never recommend a more invasive treatment when a conservative one will achieve the same result.
Can I choose how white my new smile will be?
Yes — and we’d encourage you to have a proper conversation about this rather than simply picking a shade from a chart. The shade that looks natural depends on your skin tone, the colour of your eyes, and the existing shade of any adjacent teeth that won’t be receiving veneers. Our cosmetic dentist will guide you through the options and show you different shades digitally before anything is prepared. The goal is a result that looks like the best version of your smile — not a generic white.
What’s the difference between a smile makeover and just getting veneers?
Getting veneers means placing porcelain restorations on some or all of your front teeth. A smile makeover may include veneers, but it starts with a more comprehensive assessment of everything that affects your smile: gum levels, tooth proportions relative to your face, the relationship between your upper and lower teeth, any damaged or discoloured teeth that need different treatment. A smile makeover is an integrated plan; veneers are one of the tools it may use.
What if I only want a subtle improvement — not a dramatic transformation?
Absolutely fine — and honestly, this is what most of our patients want. A natural improvement that makes you feel more confident, not a look that announces itself. The Digital Smile Design process is specifically designed to show you different levels of change so you can choose the degree of transformation that feels right for you. Many of our patients opt for a conservative shade and a moderate shape change that enhances rather than replaces their natural smile.
Is a smile makeover permanent?
Porcelain veneers are long-lasting — typically 15–20 years with proper care — but they do require a small amount of irreversible tooth preparation. Composite bonding is less permanent but also less invasive. Whitening results fade over time and may require top-ups. We discuss the longevity and maintenance requirements of each element of your treatment plan before you consent to anything.
| See your new smile before you travel — book a free Digital Smile Design preview consultation and receive a personalised treatment plan and quote within 24 hours. |