Smile Design & Smile Makeovers in Las Vegas, NV

Smile design brings together aesthetics, facial proportions, bite and restorative planning to create a treatment plan customized to the individual patient.

J.B. White, DDS provides comprehensive smile design in Las Vegas for patients considering veneers, whitening, orthodontics, gum reshaping, crowns, implants or a combination of treatments.

A Smile Designed Around Your Face, Not a Formula

A successful smile makeover involves more than changing the color or shape of individual teeth. Tooth proportions, lip movement, gum contours, facial structure and bite all influence how a smile appears and functions.

Dr. White begins by evaluating how the teeth, gums, lips and facial features work together when the patient is speaking, smiling and at rest. The desired tooth position, proportions, shade and gum display can then be planned around the patient rather than applying the same aesthetic formula to every smile.

The objective is a result that complements the patient’s facial features and personal preferences while also respecting the health and function of the teeth and bite.

Step 1

April wishes to eliminate her gummy smile and have natural looking results.
Her face is evaluated using her features to determine where the teeth and gums should be positioned.

Step 2

Current tooth position in relation to desired results.

Step 3

The skeletal condition was corrected surgically to position her jaw so her teeth contact appropriately.

Step 4

Step 5

Establishing correct gum and tooth position utilizing templates. The design is completed
based on the results desired by the patient.

Step 6

Slight tooth preparation is completed for veneer placement.

Step 7

Veneers are fabricated by our master ceramist.

Step 8

The smile enhancement is completed.

What Is Smile Design?

Smile design is not a single procedure but a coordinated treatment philosophy that may incorporate multiple dental disciplines to achieve your ideal result. Unlike isolated treatments that address individual concerns, smile design considers how every element of your smile—teeth, gums, lips, and surrounding facial features—work together to create an aesthetically pleasing whole.

The process begins with understanding what you want to change and envisioning what your ideal smile looks like. From there, Dr. White reverse-engineers the treatment pathway, determining which combination of procedures will most efficiently achieve your goals while respecting the biological limitations and possibilities unique to your situation.

A comprehensive smile makeover might include teeth whitening, orthodontic alignment, gum recontouring, porcelain veneers, crowns, dental implants, or composite bonding—whatever combination of treatments best serves your unique needs. The magic lies not in any single procedure but in how all elements are coordinated to create a cohesive, natural-looking result.

The Principles of Aesthetic Smile Design

Beautiful smiles share certain characteristics, though the specific proportions that look best vary based on individual facial features. Understanding these principles guides Dr. White’s design process:

Facial Harmony: Your smile should complement your face, not exist in isolation. Tooth size, shape, and arrangement relate to facial width, lip fullness, and overall facial proportions. A smile perfect for one face might look wrong on another.

Dental Proportions: The most aesthetically pleasing smiles follow certain proportional relationships between teeth. Central incisors typically dominate, with lateral incisors slightly smaller and canines creating a transition to the back teeth. These proportions can be adjusted within ranges to create different aesthetic effects—from bold and dramatic to soft and natural.

Gum Architecture: The gum line frames your teeth like a picture frame. Symmetrical, properly positioned gum tissue that follows the natural contours of your lips when smiling creates the foundation for beautiful teeth. Excessive gum display (gummy smile), uneven gum levels, or recession can undermine otherwise beautiful teeth.

Tooth Position and Angulation: How teeth are positioned and angled affects both appearance and function. Slight variations in angulation create natural character, while major discrepancies appear chaotic. The relationship between upper and lower teeth influences both aesthetics and bite function.

Color and Translucency: Natural teeth aren’t uniform in color—they’re lighter at the edges, darker near the gums, and display translucency that lets light pass through. Quality restorations replicate these subtle variations rather than appearing flat and monochromatic.

Why Trust Dr. White With Your Smile Design?

Dr. JB White is a world-renowned educator whose expertise spans the full spectrum of dental disciplines required for comprehensive smile design. Dentists from around the world attend his courses to learn advanced techniques in implant dentistry, aesthetic restorations, and the interdisciplinary coordination that transforms smiles.

This breadth of expertise distinguishes Dr. White’s smile design capabilities. Rather than referring components of your treatment to multiple specialists—potentially losing continuity and vision—Dr. White personally guides your entire transformation. From initial analysis through final restoration, one set of eyes and one artistic vision ensures cohesive results.

The Smile Design Process

Dr. White follows a meticulous, patient-centered process that ensures your new smile achieves exactly the result you envision. This systematic approach eliminates surprises and creates predictable, stunning outcomes.

Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation and Facial Analysis

Your smile design journey begins with in-depth consultation exploring your concerns, goals, and vision for your ideal smile. What bothers you about your current smile? What would you change? Are there smiles you admire that could guide your design?

Dr. White performs comprehensive facial analysis, evaluating how your teeth relate to your lips, face shape, and overall proportions. Photographs capture your smile from multiple angles—at rest, slightly smiling, and full smile—documenting how your lips frame your teeth in different expressions. This analysis reveals the relationship between your current smile and the aesthetic goals you’re seeking.

Step 2: Diagnostic Records and Digital Planning

Detailed diagnostic records provide the foundation for precise treatment planning. Digital impressions or scans capture your exact tooth anatomy. X-rays and CBCT imaging reveal underlying bone structure and root positions. Photographs document every aspect of your current presentation.

Using this data, Dr. White develops your smile design digitally. Advanced software allows visualization of proposed changes—you’ll see your own face with digitally designed improvements before any treatment begins. This preview ensures you and Dr. White share identical visions for your outcome and allows refinement until the design is exactly right.

Step 3: Treatment Planning and Sequencing

With the design established, Dr. White determines which procedures will achieve your goals most effectively. Complex smile makeovers often require multiple treatments performed in specific sequence:

Orthodontic alignment may precede restorations to position teeth ideally
Gum recontouring establishes proper tissue architecture
Implants replace missing teeth before final restorations
Whitening sets the shade target for restorations to match
Veneers and crowns complete the aesthetic transformation

The treatment plan specifies each procedure, its purpose in achieving your design, the sequence of treatment, and realistic timelines. You’ll understand exactly what your transformation involves before committing to proceed.

Step 4: Diagnostic Wax-Up and Mock-Up

Before any permanent changes occur, your smile design is translated into physical form. A diagnostic wax-up—hand-sculpted models of your planned new teeth—allows three-dimensional evaluation of the design.

Even more valuable, a temporary mock-up is placed directly over your existing teeth. This preview lets you actually wear your new smile—seeing it in the mirror, feeling how your lips interact with new tooth shapes, and evaluating the design in real-world conditions. You can smile, speak, and even leave the office to show friends or family.

This “test drive” phase is crucial. Modifications are easy at this stage—once you approve the design and permanent treatment begins, changes become more complex. Take time to evaluate thoroughly and request any adjustments needed to achieve your perfect result.

Step 5: Phased Treatment Execution

With your approved design as the guide, treatment proceeds according to the established sequence. Each phase builds toward the final result:

Preparatory procedures (extractions, periodontal treatment, orthodontics) create optimal conditions
Foundation treatments (implant placement, bone grafting) establish structural support
Gum procedures (crown lengthening, tissue grafting) perfect soft tissue architecture
Tooth preparation readies teeth for final restorations
Final restorations (veneers, crowns, bridges) complete the transformation

Throughout treatment, Dr. White monitors progress against the approved design, ensuring each phase achieves its intended outcome before proceeding to the next.

Step 6: Final Restoration Placement

The culmination of your smile design journey is placement of final restorations. Master ceramists craft your veneers, crowns, or other restorations to Dr. White’s exact specifications based on the approved design. Each restoration is individually characterized to achieve the natural appearance, translucency, and subtle variations that make teeth look real.

At your delivery appointment, temporary restorations are removed and finals tried in. Dr. White meticulously evaluates fit, color, contacts, and overall aesthetics. Any refinements are made before permanent placement. You leave with your completed smile—the smile you envisioned, approved, and watched transform from design to reality.

Step 7: Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Your beautiful new smile requires ongoing care to maintain its beauty and function. Dr. White provides detailed maintenance instructions specific to your restorations. Regular checkups allow monitoring of your smile’s health and early intervention if any issues arise.

With proper care, your smile design results can last for many years, providing confidence and aesthetic satisfaction that justify the investment in comprehensive treatment.

Am I a Candidate for Smile Design?

Anyone unhappy with their smile who desires comprehensive improvement may be a candidate for smile design. The scope of treatment varies tremendously—from relatively simple combinations of whitening and veneers to complex full-mouth reconstructions involving multiple specialties.

Candidates with Aesthetic Concerns

If you’re dissatisfied with your smile’s appearance—color, shape, size, alignment, gum display, or overall harmony—smile design can address your concerns comprehensively. Rather than isolated treatments that improve individual issues, smile design coordinates all changes to create a cohesive result.

Common aesthetic concerns addressed through smile design include:

Discolored, stained, or yellowed teeth
Worn, chipped, or broken teeth
Crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth
Gaps and spacing between teeth
Gummy smile or uneven gum line
Short, small, or disproportionate teeth
Missing teeth affecting smile appearance
Old, failing, or unsightly dental work

Candidates with Functional Concerns

Smile design isn’t purely cosmetic—many patients seek comprehensive treatment because their teeth no longer function properly. Severely worn teeth, collapsed bite dimension, missing teeth affecting chewing, and bite dysfunction causing jaw pain all benefit from the coordinated approach smile design provides.

Functional concerns often addressed include:

Severely worn teeth from grinding or acid erosion
Bite collapse affecting facial appearance
TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain
Difficulty chewing due to missing or broken teeth
Speech issues related to tooth position

Candidates Seeking Comprehensive Solutions

Some patients have accumulated dental problems over years—a crown here, an extraction there, failing fillings, and gradual deterioration. Rather than continuing piecemeal repairs, comprehensive smile design addresses everything at once, creating a fresh start with coordinated treatment.

Health and Commitment Considerations

Successful smile design requires adequate general health to undergo potentially extensive treatment and sufficient bone and gum support for planned restorations. Active dental disease must be controlled before cosmetic treatment proceeds.

Comprehensive smile makeovers also require significant commitment—multiple appointments over weeks or months, financial investment, and dedication to maintenance afterward. Dr. White discusses these requirements honestly during consultation, ensuring you understand what achieving your dream smile involves.

Can Smile Design Fix a Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile can have several different causes, including tooth position, gum position, tooth proportions, lip movement or underlying jaw relationships. Because the cause varies, treatment should not begin with the assumption that gum reshaping alone will solve the problem.

Smile Design for Worn Teeth and Bite Changes

Some patients seeking cosmetic improvement also have substantial tooth wear, grinding, older restorations or changes in their bite. In these cases, simply improving the appearance of the front teeth may not address the underlying problem. Bite forces and available tooth structure should be evaluated before selecting restorative treatment.

Dr. White’s planning process considers both the desired appearance and how the teeth will function together after treatment. Patients with severe wear, collapsed bite relationships or extensive failing dentistry may ultimately require a more comprehensive full-mouth reconstruction rather than a primarily cosmetic smile makeover.

Smile Design vs. Full Mouth Reconstruction

Smile design and full-mouth reconstruction can overlap, but they are not necessarily the same treatment. A smile makeover is generally driven primarily by aesthetic goals and may involve otherwise healthy teeth that the patient wants to improve.

Full-mouth reconstruction typically involves more significant functional or structural problems, such as severely worn teeth, multiple failing restorations, extensive tooth loss or bite instability. Some patients fall between these categories. The consultation helps determine how much treatment is actually necessary rather than assuming that every comprehensive cosmetic case requires rebuilding the entire mouth.

Smile Makeover Cost and Treatment Planning

There is no single price for a smile makeover because smile design can involve very different combinations of treatment. A patient requiring whitening and limited bonding will have a very different treatment plan from someone receiving veneers, crowns, implants and gum treatment.

Following the diagnostic evaluation, patients should receive a customized treatment recommendation explaining which procedures are proposed, why they are recommended, the sequence of care and the associated fees. When appropriate, more complex treatment may also be divided into phases based on clinical priorities and the patient’s goals.

Frequently Asked Questions about Smile Design

What is smile design?

Smile design is a comprehensive approach to cosmetic dentistry that analyzes your entire face—not just your teeth—to create a customized treatment plan achieving your ideal smile. Rather than isolated procedures addressing individual concerns, smile design coordinates multiple treatments (whitening, orthodontics, veneers, crowns, implants, gum recontouring) into a cohesive plan that ensures all elements harmonize for natural-looking results.

How long does a smile makeover take?

Smile makeover timelines range from a few weeks for simple cases to 12-18 months for complex transformations involving orthodontics, implants, and multiple restorative phases. A typical veneer-based smile makeover completes in 2-4 weeks. Cases requiring orthodontic preparation add 6-12 months. Full mouth reconstructions may require multiple phases over a year or more.

Can I see what my new smile will look like before treatment?

Yes, comprehensive smile design includes digital visualization and physical mock-ups that let you see your planned results before any permanent treatment begins. Digital smile design software shows your face with proposed improvements. Diagnostic mock-ups placed over your existing teeth let you actually wear your new smile, evaluate appearance, and request modifications before committing to treatment.

Is smile design only for cosmetic purposes?

No, smile design frequently addresses functional problems alongside aesthetic goals. Severely worn teeth, bite dysfunction, missing teeth affecting chewing, and TMJ disorders all benefit from the comprehensive approach smile design provides. Many patients seek smile design because their teeth no longer function properly, with aesthetic improvement as an added benefit of necessary treatment.

What is the difference between a smile makeover and full mouth reconstruction?

A smile makeover focuses primarily on aesthetic improvement of visible teeth, typically involving whitening, veneers, and limited crowns on front teeth. Full mouth reconstruction addresses every tooth in both arches, rebuilding the entire bite when teeth are severely worn, damaged, or missing. Full mouth reconstruction restores function first, with aesthetic improvement as an integrated benefit.

How do I maintain my smile design results?

Maintain smile design results through excellent daily oral hygiene (brushing, flossing), regular professional cleanings every six months, wearing night guards if you grind your teeth, avoiding habits that stress restorations (chewing ice, biting nails), and attending follow-up appointments for monitoring. With proper care, smile design results can last 15-20+ years before requiring significant maintenance.

Can smile design fix a gummy smile?

Yes, smile design effectively corrects gummy smiles through various approaches depending on the cause. Crown lengthening surgically repositions gum tissue to expose more tooth. Orthodontic intrusion moves teeth into the bone, reducing gum display. Lip repositioning limits how high your lip rises when smiling. Severe cases may require jaw surgery to correct underlying skeletal issues, as in April’s case featured above.